The Global University Consortium is HomeBased at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in the School of Architecture and Planning. All universities are welcome to participate. There is no formal membership, and upon inquiry we would add you to our mailing list. A website has been established as the main forum for sharing ideas. Send us your comments, ideas, and examples of incremental housing! Of particular interest are before/after photos illustrating the growth process. Contact: incrementalhousing@mit.edu
A Facebook site is being tested.
The HomeBase support is provided by the SIGUS Group at MIT (Special Interest Group in Urban Settlement). It is managed by Dr. Reinhard Goethert, Director of SIGUS. (rgoethert@mit.edu)
An advisory group is being formed to provide guidance to the Consortium.
Founding members include:
Roberto Chavez
Mexican Architect/Planner, MIT ‘76.
Over 30 years of World Bank experience with identification, preparation and implementation of projects and studies in urban development and upgrading, urban infrastructure, urban environment, local government, microfinance and earthquake reconstruction. Others areas of expertise include non-motorized transportation, geographic information systems, low-cost cadastre, distance education, project operations and portfolio management.
Countries of significant experience include Brazil, Haiti, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Peru, Mexico, Burkina Faso, Mali, Togo, Zaire, Malawi, Angola, and Mozambique.
Work History includes: Photographer/Assistant Cameraman, teacher, Architect in Mexico to '74; Urban Planner, World Bank, '77-82; National Director of Urban Development, Nicaragua, '83-85; Consultant, Lecturer, Columbia University, MIT, et al, '85-87; Senior Urban Planner, World Bank, '88-92; Country Officer, Mozambique, '92-93; Resident Representative, Mozambique, '93-97; Knowledge Management Officer, ’97-2000; Lead Urban Specialist , 2000-’07; retired from the World Bank. Lifetime Achievement Award by the World Bank Urban Community in 2007 and Golden Grady Award, 2001.
George Gattoni
Architect, MIT ’73.
Retired from the World Bank in 2001, with 27 years of experience supporting all types of urban development activities. Pre-Bank experience includes non-governmental housing organizations, and a range of architectural and urban planning projects.
Currently consultant to the Inter-American Development Bank-supported Housing and Neighborhood Upgrading Project of the Government of Barbados, Advisor and reviewer for World Bank-funded Vietnam Urban Upgrading Project, The Cities Alliance grants program, and non-profit urban and architectural preservation groups in New Orleans. Guest lecturer at MIT’S SIGUS Slum Upgrading courses. Created publication on slum upgrading for Vietnam. During his World Bank career he participated in all aspects of World Bank-supported urban development activities in 58 developing countries. As Principal and Lead Urban Planner, was directly responsible for the identification and implementation of over 27 urban development projects. These focused on housing for the poor and slum upgrading; solid waste and urban infrastructure management; municipal development and decentralization. Was involved with management, sector analysis, institutional capacity building and training, co-financing, and inter-institutional coordination.
Before his work with the Bank, he practiced architecture and was Chief of Planning and Projects Division for the Fundación Salvadoreña de Vivienda Mínima (FUNDASAL), El Salvador.
HomeBase Manager
Dr. Reinhard Goethert
Director, SIGUS Group
Goethert teaches at MIT, and couples research with consulting in Third World development. He focuses his interests in methodologies of settlement design, housing and in participatory practice. He designs incrementally developed settlement projects and develops policies for housing the low-income in developing countries, including developing tools for designers, training programs for technical staff, research programs, and monitoring strategies for agencies. At MIT he teaches courses on urbanization, design, and housing in developing countries and is director of SIGUS (Special Interest Group in Urban Settlement), a school-wide program at MIT focused on the profession and housing in the democratization of design and practice. Current projects include research on frames for autonomous development. He received his M.Arch degree at MIT, and his Dr-Ing. in Urban Planning at the RWTH in Germany. In 1997, Goethert was named recipient of the United Nations Habitat Scroll of Honour, for "outstanding contributions in the development of innovative methodologies, training and field practice in Community Action Planning".
Web design is by Will Donovan.
Contact Will @
Previous work includes the highly reguarded website: http://web.mit.edu/urbanupgrading
