On April 9, as part of the DGI April Gathering in St Vincent, Nika Dubrovsky interviewed Alastair Parvin (Open Systems Lab, Wikihouse).

Their conversation focused on construction practices and the challenges of open-source, resilient architecture in the Caribbean context. Here are some of the key questions they explored:

• How can we design governance structures for resilient villages, rather than isolated houses — and how do we build truly open, non-gated communities?
  
• What are the most suitable locally sourced materials in the Caribbean (concrete, bamboo, shipping containers), and how can pre-designed systems be adapted to them?
  
• How do we build homes that can withstand extreme weather, like hurricanes?
  
• Can a building unit act as a “survival kit” — something that works on its own and can be expanded over time?
  
• How do we balance cost, quality, and climate needs?
  
• What’s the right mix between private and shared space?
  
• And finally: how should ownership be structured?
  

The full interview will be published soon on the websites of the David Graeber Institute and the Museum of Care.