In recent years, eco-friendly construction has been gaining ground around the world. The goal is to build or renovate a building in a way that ensures it is as environmentally friendly as possible at every stage of construction and throughout its subsequent use. This concept is being implemented here by Olivier Agricole, founder of Eco Kay, who believes that today we must combine environmental sustainability with economic efficiency, starting with our living spaces.
Can you tell us about the Eco Kay concept?
We offer sustainable, hurricane- and earthquake-resistant structures with thermal insulation, as well as self-sufficient homes equipped with solar panels, wind turbines, and LED lighting…. We also have a wide range of eco-friendly equipment, including banana-fiber coverings, misting systems, and eco-pools made from rubber derived from recycled tires from end-of-life vehicles…For example, we’re working on constructed wetlands, where plants filter wastewater and sewage from the home. All our products are linked to ecology, energy efficiency, and creating a more environmentally friendly home.
We work with more than 50 local partners, even though some products are imported. Everything is in place to build eco-friendly and energy-efficient homes; we have all the necessary technical resources, which wasn’t the case a few years ago. Prices have gone down, and technology has advanced.
We’ve already had the opportunity to build these here. Our clientele consists of people in their 30s and 40s who are looking for this type of durable home. We work with social housing providers who turn to us because we’re affordable, efficient, and eco-friendly. The Eco Kay product is the ideal home.
Is your goal to build houses that can withstand winds of 400 km/h?
Yes, we believe that what’s important is to build structures that can withstand winds of over 400 km/h. We know that major hurricanes will form more and more frequently as the oceans warm. According to architects, at 400 km/h, many homes can be damaged. So, together with them, we’ve developed the concept of container homes, which are notably much more resistant.
When a roof is blown off, and you’re out on the water during the storm, all your belongings are damaged. The advantage of shipping containers is that even if you have a metal roof structure or something similar, you’re sheltered inside the container, which becomes a survival shelter. It’s essential to have survival shelters in Martinique.
In the event of a disaster, these houses remain standing because their foundations are no longer at ground level—they are underground, sometimes extending more than 6 meters below the surface.
These houses offer quite a few advantages. In addition, they allow for the recycling of shipping containers that have reached the end of their useful life for transporting goods; these containers are refurbished—stripped and sandblasted to restore them to near-new condition—and equipped with insulation and micro-piles to prevent rust. These homes can easily last more than 50 years.
Today we have a truly exceptional product that we want to make as widely available as possible. We’re going to work with CTM to explore the possibility of offering an incentive for this type of construction.
What other types of structures do you offer?
There are eco-friendly homes on the water. We have three operators offering three types of structures that are already operational in Martinique. Currently, the three floating home projects we’re proposing already have projects underway for 2018 in Martinique. There’s KayFlo, which was created by a native of Martinique; Aqualodge, which has its own boats; and a French operator that is developing a mini-city on the water in Martinique. I’m passionate about this type of concept—it’s not a pipe dream; it’s something that can actually be done.
We've developed mobile structures known as "teen houses," which allow people to stay on unauthorized land because they're mobile. There's a market for seasonal rentals.
In conclusion…
I think it's really important—even for those who already own homes—to have a container-based survival shelter on micropiles at home in case of hurricanes.
Kaylan Fagour
