Low-rise buildings in earthquake-prone areas in many parts of the world are often constructed by self-taught masons and contractors. How to build safer houses with confined masonry: a guide for masons is an essential ‘how to’ handbook bringing together a collected knowledge of earthquake-resistant construction techniques indispensable for masons and construction workers.

The guide focuses on ‘confined masonry’, a construction system consisting of masonry walls (built first) and horizontal and vertical reinforced concrete elements (poured in subsequently) that confine the masonry wall panels on all four sides. This method has been developed by practitioners rather than engineers and responds well to the technical and financial capacities of self-builders.

This easy-to-read pocket guide combines detailed illustrations and images with clear instructions to address construction issues. The guide acts as an ideal companion for masons, construction workers, contractors, technicians, architects and students of architecture and civil engineering completing practical training on building sites.

Nadia Carlevaro and Guillaume Roux-Fouillet are architects and the founders of mobilstudio. They have 10 years of humanitarian experience with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and other organisations in designing and training on earthquake- and cyclone-resilient buildings in Myanmar, Haiti, the Philippines, Nepal and Ecuador. Tom Schacher is an architect with 20 years of humanitarian experience as a technical expert with SDC in Kenya, Rwanda, Turkey, Ethiopia, Iran, Pakistan, Haiti and Ecuador. He has developed manuals and training materials for construction workers on locally appropriate earthquake-resistant construction techniques.

Low-rise buildings in earthquake-prone areas in many parts of the world are often constructed by self-taught masons and contractors. How to build safer houses with confined masonry: a guide for masons is an essential ‘how to’ handbook bringing together a collected knowledge of earthquake-resistant construction techniques indispensable for masons and construction workers.

The guide focuses on ‘confined masonry’, a construction system consisting of masonry walls (built first) and horizontal and vertical reinforced concrete elements (poured in subsequently) that confine the masonry wall panels on all four sides. This method has been developed by practitioners rather than engineers and responds well to the technical and financial capacities of self-builders.

This easy-to-read pocket guide combines detailed illustrations and images with clear instructions to address construction issues. The guide acts as an ideal companion for masons, construction workers, contractors, technicians, architects and students of architecture and civil engineering completing practical training on building sites.

Nadia Carlevaro and Guillaume Roux-Fouillet are architects and the founders of mobilstudio. They have 10 years of humanitarian experience with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and other organisations in designing and training on earthquake- and cyclone-resilient buildings in Myanmar, Haiti, the Philippines, Nepal and Ecuador. Tom Schacher is an architect with 20 years of humanitarian experience as a technical expert with SDC in Kenya, Rwanda, Turkey, Ethiopia, Iran, Pakistan, Haiti and Ecuador. He has developed manuals and training materials for construction workers on locally appropriate earthquake-resistant construction techniques.