Megastructures as Disaster Shelters?

8/10/2019 Megastructures as Disaster Shelters?

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Megastructures as Disaster Shelters?

Luke Smith

BEng (Hons) Architecture and Environmental Engineering

April 2011

9887 Words

his stud! "as completed as part o# the BEng (Hons) Architecture and Environmental

Engineering at the $niversit! o# the West o# England% he "or& is m! o"n% Where the

"or& o# others is used or dra"n on' it is attriuted to the relevant source%

igned

*u&e mith

his dissertation is protected ! cop!right% +o not cop! an! part o# it #or an!

purpose other than personal academic stud! "ithout the permission o# the author%

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Abstract

he aim o# this dissertation "as to anal!se the use o# a modular megastructure as a solution to

disaster relie# shelters%

o achieve this it anal!ses current shelter design and settlement design' as "ell as relevant

standards to grasp an overvie" o# the su.ect area% /t anal!ses the use o# megastructures as a

shelter' and the principles and architectural philosophies ehind these rutal pieces o#

architecture% /t also studies ne"er and more intriguing shelter designs to accumulate ideas and

dra" comparisons to megastructures%

he #inal section dra"s upon this anal!sis to provide considerations "hen developing disaster

settlements and designing disaster shelters% he considerations include' design ideas'

communit! inclusion and settlement structure% he! provide a collaoration et"een

megastructures and relie# shelters' and ultimatel! sho" ho" megastructure principles can e

used to help design a etter shelter%

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Acknowledgement

/ "ould to than& m! #riends' #amil! and girl#riend #or their continued support "hile researching

and "riting this dissertation' #or "ithout them this "ould have een etremel! di##icult% A

special than&s goes to aul ir!' m! dissertation tutor' #or his invaluale help and &no"ledge

"ithin the su.ect area%

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Contents

1.0 Introduction Pg. .

1%1 H!pothesis g% 4%

1%2 5elevance g% 4 6 8%

1%3 5esearch ethod g% 8 6 9%

1%- +e#inition o# helter and ettlements g% 9 6 10%

1%4 +e#inition o# egastructure g 11 6 13%

!.0 Anal"sis Pg. 1#.

2%1 Anal!sis o# current shelter g% 1- 6 1%

2%2 Anal!sis o# current settlements g% 1 6 17%

2%3 Anal!sis o# current standards g% 18 6 20%

2%- egastructures as disaster relie# strategies g% 20 6 2%

2%4 Anal!sis o# ne" shelter design g% 2 6 31%

2% Anal!sis "ithin :limatic ;ones g% 32 6 3%

$.0 Conclusion Pg. $% & $'.

(e)erences Pg. $* & #0.

+ibliogra,h" Pg. #1.

-igure List Pg. #!.

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1.0 Introduction

he ph!sical design o# our homes' neighourhoods and communities shapes literall!

ever! aspect o# our lives% ua&es o#ten leave hundreds o# thousands' or sometimes millions o#

people displaced' "ithout their asic needs #or shelter' sa#et!' clean "ater' sanitation and #ood%

$nder these circumstances' the simple input o# an architect can ma&e the lives o# the survivors

much easier and com#ortale in oth the short and long=term%

he shelter "hich is usuall! provided' ma! not e suitale in the climate or #ul#il the needs o#

the people "hich have een a##ected% /# an architect "as to have an input in these shelters and

the design o# the transitional communities' then the! should e more suitale and ene#icial to

the occupants%

1.1 ",othesis

his dissertation "ill loo& at the h!pothesis :an a modular megastructure e a suitale

disaster relie# shelter' i# not' can the principles o# the modular megastructures e put into

practice to create a etter disaster relie# shelter?

1.! (ele/ance

@atural disasters "ill al"a!s e a part o# our eistence' the! "ill continue to cause casualties'

devastate #amilies and damage the econom!% Although these disasters cannot e stopped and

thus the conse>uences "ill continue' the &no"ledge "e have aout disasters' and the "a! in

"hich a##ected #amilies are dealt "ith' can help to reduce these e##ects and commence the

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recover! process more e##icientl! and e##ectivel! to aid recover!%

,ver the past thirt!=#ive !ears the numer o# disasters has increased' although the data #or

2010 sho"s that there "ere #e"er disasters reported than the average et"een 2000=2009%

(:5E+' 2011)% Even though there "ere #e"er disasters reported in 2010' a single catastrophicearth>ua&e almost >uadrupled the amount o# deaths in this single !ear "hen compared to the

average o# 2000=2009 (:5E+' 2011)% he earth>ua&e "hich struc& Haiti in anuar! o# 2010' "as

seen as one o# the most catastrophic humanitarian disastersC to occur in recent !ears% /t struc&

"ith a magnitude o# 7%3' a##ecting one third o# all the people living in Haiti (9 illion eople)

and &illing 230'000% /t "as the "orst disaster to stri&e Haiti "ithin a centur!% (helter :entre'

2010)

Hundreds o# natural disasters occur each !ear' the earth>ua&e o# Haiti illustrates that the! can

stri&e an!"here and a##ect millions o# people% Even i# the! do not a##ect people directl!' these

destructive disasters "ill still e &no"n o# across the "orld' through ne"s coverage'

ne"spaper articles and' o# course' the internet% Ho"ever' onl! the large disasters are ever

covered' several smaller disasters occur each !ear "hich receive no ne"s coverage' these still

e##ect peoples lives in a detrimental "a!% @o matter ho" large or small a disaster ma! e' the!

e##ect lives' there#ore disaster relie# "ill al"a!s e a relevant topic o# stud! toda!' and studies

into this area "ill continue to occur into the #uture%

+uring the 190s a seminal group o# architects &no"n as Archigram "or&ed on #uturistic and

idealistic schemes% ,ne o# their most #amous pieces o# architecture is the lug in :it!' a

modular megastructure% hese schemes "here never li&el! to e conceived in realit!' and can

there#ore e considered more o# a stud! into architecture and ho" it reacts to such

outrageous' technologicall! advanced schemes%

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Figure 1: Archigram's 'Plug in City'

Ho"ever' no"ada!s the modular megastructure is a highl! considered design idea "ithin the

"orld o# architecture% /t is eing continuall! researched and developed as a concept #or dealing

"ith large populations "ithin a small' con#ined space%

here "ill e 8%3 illion human eings on Earth ! 2030% Dor the guest=editors o#

this issue o# A+ () the more the etter% he! controversiall! suggest that humanit!

might create a "orld o# epansive mega cities%

(A+' 200)

he area o# #ocus #or the modular mega structures "ill e on the rationales that architects use

"hen designing such structures' the ideas and philosoph!s ehind them' and i# the! are a

realistic "a! o# providing shelter a#ter a disaster%

he settlement a#ter a disaster and the temporar! shelters "hich create this settlement solve

similar prolems to that o# a mega structure' and the communit! such a structure "ould

provide% here#ore it is possile that a lin& et"een the t"o can e made' and principles #rom

oth areas can e shared et"een either t!pe o# architecture%

/# the megastructure isnt #easile then these shared ideas "ill e translated across into the

stud! o# shelters' in the hope the! "ill provide ans"ers to some o# the man! prolems "hich

occur "hen designing a suitale temporar! shelter #or disaster victims and survivors%

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here are several areas o# disaster "hich could e #ocused on% he chosen area #or this stud! is

to e shelter and settlements% his "as selected as it is the area "ith the closest relationship to

architecture and a contentious area "hich is "ell documented' researched' and deated%

1.$ (esearch Method

ost o# the research comes #rom secondar! sources' "here the in#ormation #rom these "ill e

criticall! anal!sed to #orm opinions on the su.ect area% An! primar! sources used "ill e

otained through intervie"s "ith pro#essionals "ithin the #ield%

Dirstl!' de#initions o# the &e! terms "ithin the h!pothesis and an! related phrases "ill e

de#ined' #or oth clarit! and structure% he #irst terms "hich "ill e de#ined are shelter

alongside settlement' speci#icall! eing related to disasters' this should provide a de#inition o#

"hat the dissertation see&s to improve upon% he second term "hich "ill e de#ined is

megastructure' this "ill give the #ocus on the points eing ta&en #or"ard%

he research #or this dissertation "ill e separated into #our main areas #or discussion' each

dealing "ith a single part o# the h!pothesis and leading to a conclusive ans"er%

1% Will anal!se current standards #or disaster relie# shelter' and the predominant use o#

tents as a shelter "ill e studied% hese methods "ill then e anal!sed and scrutinised

to see "here the! can e improved upon% his "ill provide the asis #or the re=design

to disaster settlements%

2% Will #ocus on mega structures% /t "ill ta&e the de#inition #urther and stud! the design

and ideologies ehind them% /t "ill anal!se pulications aout modular mega

structures' and gain a "ide understanding o# "hat the! aim to achieve' and ho" the!

achieve this% $sing this in#ormation' a #easiilit! stud! "ill e carried out to see i# a

megastructure could e utilised on a disaster site% /# it cannot' then this in#ormation'

together "ith the #indings relating to the short #alls o# current disaster relie# strategies

"ill e ta&en #or"ard to #orm the asis o# "hat a improved settlement could include%

3% Will eamine ne" thin&ing "ithin the #ield' eamining concepts regarding ne"

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settlements and ideas "hich move a"a! #rom the standard tent% his section "ill loo&

e!ond simpl! the shelterF it "ill consider communities' neighourhoods and homes'

lin&ing closel! to the modular megastructures%

-% Will accumulate these ideas' ringing together ideas #rom oth mega structures andne" shelter design% /t "ill place these ideas against recent locations a##ected !

disaster' "ithin ver! speci#ic climatic Gones throughout the "orld% ho"ing "hether

the collaoration et"een large scale architecture and small shelter design is #easile%

1.# De)inition o) Shelter and Settlement

he "ord shelter' is &e! to the this dissertation' it #orms the asis o# the h!pothesis so a

de#inition o# the "ord is essential% $@H:5 (2000) descries shelter as

helter must' at a minimum' provide protection #rom the elements' space to live and

store elongings' privac! and emotional securit!% helter is li&el! to e one o# the

most important determinants o# general living conditions and is o#ten one o# the

largest items o# non=recurring ependiture% While the asic need #or shelter is similar

in most emergencies' such considerations as the &ind o# housing needed' "hat

materials and design are used' "ho constructs the housing and ho" long it must

last "ill di##er signi#icantl! in each situation%

Epanding upon this' the asic purpose o# a shelter is to protect its occupants #rom oth the

elements and attac&% he s&in and structure o# the shelter must e suitale #or the

environment' and provide ade>uate protection against the "eather #or the people inhaiting

it% /t is also the .o o# the shelter to ensure its inhaitants #eel secure' and sa#e #rom un"anted

human or animal interaction% he privac! and dignit! are oth provided ! the shelters

"alls' to allo" #or this' the! must e opa>ue' and openings have an appropriate covering' it

ma! e necessar! #or a shelter to have several rooms or the ailit! to e divided% $@H:5 also

sa!s that a shelter must provide a place to interact% Dor this' the shelter must have a

communal space' large enough to accommodate its occupants #amil! and #riends%

,#am B have a similar description o# shelter in their pulication transitional settlement

displaced populations ut the description "hich is more closel! lin&ed to this dissertation' and

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more interesting is the one given #or transitional shelter% ransitional shelter is stated to e

shelter "hich provides a haitale covered living space and a secure' health! living

environment' "ith privac! and dignit!' to those "ithin it' during the period et"een a

con#lict or natural disaster and the achievement o# a durale shelter solution%(:orsellis and Iitale' 2004)

he interesting part o# this description is the latter "here it descries "hat transitional is% his

is an important description as a shelter a#ter a disaster is temporar!% he &e! part is that the

shelter is onl! usale et"een a certain time period' and "ill e used until permanent shelter

has een uilt or ecomes availale%

he disaster shelters used "ill generall! e produced and organised "ithin small settlements'

there#ore a de#inition o# settlement "ill e provided to give more clarit! and scope to

descriptions "here it is used%

A settlement is a collection o# shelters "hich are uilt rationall! to #orm a communit! "ithin a

larger area% ogether "ith the shelters the! provide a health! and secure place to live% he!

also provide etra amounts o# privac! to the people "ho live "ithin the settlement%

(:orsellis and Iitale' 2004)

he shelter centre also coined the term transitional settlement at a peer revie" session' it is

given the meaning o# settlement and shelter resulting #rom con#lict and natural disasters'

ranging #rom emergenc! response to durale solutionsC (:orsellis and Iitale' 2004)% he term

transitional is important in this as it emphasises the settlements temporar! status% /t should

onl! e used initiall! a#ter a disaster' and should #orm part o# the recover! process' not e the

complete recover! process in itsel#%

o conclude' a transitional shelter and transitional settlement should provide victims o# a

disaster "ith a temporar! d"elling "hilst the area and people a##ected recover% he shelters

and settlements could e upgraded or rec!cled once the! have #ul#illed this .o' ut should

never e seen as a permanent solution%

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1. De)inition o) Megastructure

egastructureF An over=scaled' colossal' multi=unit architectural mass

(Banham' 197' citing :oo& and lotG' 1973)

Figure 2: The work of the futurist Sant' Elia;

Central ilan Station

egastructures started out as ideas during the 190s the! evolved #rom the #uturists love #or

technolog! #or piping and "iring and struts and cat="al&s and ristling radar antennae and

supplementar! #uel tan&s and landing=pads all carried in eposed lattice #ramesC (Banham'

197)%

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o egin' these megastructures "ere uns!mpathetic pieces o# architecture' the! "ere designed

to such an etent that nothing else is needed' this one structure "ould #ul#il ever! re>uirement

o# a settlement' creating places to live' pla!' shop and "or&%

hese architectural rutes "ere ased around a solid net"or&=structure' "here the modulescould e placed into this' creating an ever changing' ever adaptale cit!% hese modular units

"ould #ul#il the need o# di##erent #acilities "ithin the megastructure% he asic structure o# the

megastructure "ould e uilt to outlast the smaller modules "hich it "ould support% (Banham'

197' citing Wilcoon 198)

Ho"ever' no"ada!s these megastructures are eing researched and designed to "or&

alongside our current cities% hese pro.ects still have their roots in the "or& o# Archigram and

antElia' and "hile the! can provide ever!thing that a cit! should need' the! still use

modularit! and are designed to e etraordinar! pieces o# architecture% An eample o# this is

onathan ch"inges pro.ect :loud iercer descried in anmade odular s (A+' 2004) asJ

() an oceanic vertical supercit! to meet the rate o# anticipated economic and

population gro"th throughout the "orld (%) Each to"er contains all the #unctions o#

a cit!' and provides relie# to' and etension o#' overcro"ded old *ondon%

Figure !: Schwinge's 'Clou" Piercer'

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Dor the contet o# this dissertation' the "ord megastructure "ill e ta&en as a miture o#

aove% /t "ill e a uilding o# signi#icant scale' "ith its asic structure eing #ormed !

modularit!' eing ever epandale though the use o# clip on modules' to provide all that is

re>uiredF ho"ever' it should also "or& alongside and "ith the environment and eisting

structures' helping to alleviate the prolems' not create more%he term mega=structure "as coined ! Dumihi&o a&i in 19-% Although the de#inition is

some - !ears old' it is still as relevant toda! as it "as then' and per#ectl! descries the "ord

megastructure #or use in this dissertation asJ

() a large #rame in "hich all the #unctions o# a cit! or part o# a cit! are housed% /t has

een made possile ! present da! technolog!% /n a sense it is a man=made #eature

o# the landscape% /t is li&e the great hill on "hich /talian to"ns "ere uilt% (%%%)

(Banham' 197' citing a&i 19-)

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!.0 Anal"sis

!.1 Anal"sis o) current shelter

/n "ar=torn countries and areas devastated ! disaster% he presence o# $@H:5

tents is one o# the #irst signs o# aid%

(Architecture #or Humanit!' 200)

he canvas tent is the most common t!pe o# shelter deplo!ed "hen there is a humanitarian

crisis% /ts simple triangular #orm is easil! recognised and the presence o# this tent and the

$@H:5 logo signi#ies that aid has started% Although the! are the predominant choice #or

shelter' these canvas tents are eginning to e replaced and re=designed% here are several

prolems "ith such tents' #rom the initial manu#acture' through to the small details "ithin the

design' and each o# these "ill e studied%

Figure #: $%&C Can(as Tent

he initial prolem "ith tents is the "eight o# them% he canvas tents are etremel! heav!'

causing them to e cumersome and costl! to transport ($nited @ations' 200-)% his siGe and

"eight has &noc&=on e##ects on the transport and logistics o# the tent%

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() "ith transport costs and development costs' emergenc! shelter costs as much

as 1m2o# permanent housing

(+avis' 1977)

his >uote ! +avis emphasises the current prolem o# emergenc! shelter% Wh! produce

temporar! shelter "hen permanent shelter can e produced #or a similar cost? he ans"er is

the aspect o# time' a tent can e erected in a matter o# hours' "here a permanent shelter

could ta&e da!s' possil! "ee&s' or even months to construct% he #unction o# the tent is to

provide this temporar! shelter as >uic&l! as possile to the victims o# a humanitarian crisis%

Ho"ever' it is ecoming ever more common that tents do not even #ul#il this need #or speed%

() tents' = the solution o# choice #or most aid agencies 6 "ould e shipped over

great distances at great cost onl! to go unused ecause the! arrived too late (%%%)


he logistics ehind the use o# shelter can also cause prolems% +uring a crisis' an!thing and

ever!thing "ill e sent% 5e#ugees in sno"=prone regions might receive plastic sheeting' "hile

"interiGed tents might get sent to "arm' desert climates%C his is due to poor planning and

genuine mista&es eing made in an attempt to minimise the time it ta&es #or shelter to e

providedF ho"ever' it can cause more prolems' giving shelter that is not onl! unsuitale #or

the climate and region the! are sent to' ut also produces an environment "hich is detrimental

to the occupantsK health% (Architecture #or Humanit!' 200)

o #ar' onl! prolems "ith the manu#acture' transport and cost o# tents has een considered%

Ho" a tent is #aricated "ill no" e anal!sed' #ocussing on the uilding methods and materials

"hich create the shelter%

hese canvas tents are also a prolem in storage' and su##er #rom rot% he! are protected

against #ire and rot "hen #irst manu#actured' ut i# stored incorrectl! can still e e##ected ! rot

as soon as months a#ter there production ($nited @ations' 200-)% o overcome this' man!

manu#acturers "ill procure tents as the demand increases' ho"ever this needs to e alanced

"ith the logistics o# the shipping and production times so not to create #urther prolems% he

prolem o# rot also causes prolems "ithin the #ield and shortens the li#espan and

e##ectiveness o# tents% Architecture #or Humanit! (200) see this as one o# the largest prolems

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o# canvas tents' and it is rought up several times "ithin the pulication

() canvas tents "ere heav! and costl! to ship' and ecause the canvas rots' the

tents deteriorated >uic&l! and could not e stoc&piled #or long periods% Wear and

tear on the "ea&ened material in the #ield signi#icantl! shortened the use#ul li#espano# the shelter%

he nature o# the cotton used is such that it can shrin& "hen it ecomes "et' causing #urther

issues "ith the tent% his shrin&age "ill ma&e the tent prone to lea&s' causing an environment

inside "hich is unhealth!% he use o# a #l! sheet is needed "ithin a tent to allo" ventilation' ut

this can cause "ater to soa& in i# its touching the canvas' so this contact should e avoided%

he smaller more a"&"ard parts o# a tent are also capale o# causing prolems% he gu! ropes

and pole are li&el! to snap' reducing the strength o# the canvas tent' this could cause the tent

to #ail' and collapse% /ts also a possiilit! that the gu! ropes "ill tear the canvas "here the! are

attached% his can cause prolems "ith oth structure and "aterproo#ing% ($nited @ations'

200-)

helter also creates several prolems "ithin the communit!% @ot ecause o# the design' ut

ecause the victims do not tend to use them% /an +avis (1977) in his &e! tet shelter a#ter

+isaster states this reaction as cultural unacceptailit! o# alien #orms o# housingC% his is

"here the victims pre#er to shelter "ith #amil! or #riends e#ore considering the use o# o##icial

shelters% Even i# this is not possile' the use o# a ma&e shi#t shelter is still pre#erred over tents%

Another prolem that shelter creates "ithin the communit! is that it generates no local

emplo!ment "ithin the disaster Gone "hen the shelter is .ust shipped or #lo"n in% his is a

huge prolem as emplo!ment opportunities immediatel! a#ter a disaster can e crucial to the

recover! o# the a##ected regions econom!% (+avis' 1977)

!.! Anal"sis o) current settlements

he la!out o# shelter in a re#ugee camp can either provide suitale protection or

eacerate the li&elihood o# unsa#e conditions%

(:orsellis and Iitale' 2004' citing Anderson 199-)

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his >uote ! Anderson sho"s that the settlement' as "ell o# the shelter is in need o# anal!sis%

he current "a! in "hich a settlement is designed' does not provide "hat it is supposed to%

he de#inition o# settlement "as given as settlement is a collection o# shelters "hich are uilt

rationall! to #orm a communit! () ogether "ith the shelters the! provide a health! and

secure place to live% he! also provide etra amounts o# privac!%

() most camps at the time "ere designed in a grid' "ith multiple #amilies housed

in militar! st!le arrac&s% () camps uilt ! the $ militar! eperienced a continual

surge o# re#ugees' ma&ing an! attempt at planning a #arce%


$n#ortunatel! ! uilding in a militar! st!le arrac&s then the privac! that these settlements

should provide' is not given% he "ord militar!' gives it a regimented #eel' tents lined up in

ro"s' maimising the use o# space' "ith little concern #or the occupants privac! and there#ore

not providing "hat a settlement should%

As "ell as this' the constant in#lu o# people "ithin the camp "ould detract #rom the

communit! #eeling% he population "ould constantl! e in #lu' "ith no one sta!ing

permanentl! ("hile the camp eists' not in a permanent shelter)% his constant change o#

population and change in inhaitants "ould ma&e the camp more o# a commune than a

communit!% he inhaitants "ould not #eel part o# an!thing' and have no #eeling o# o"nership'

the camps in#rastructure su##ers ecause o# this' creating a di##icult place to manage and plan%


hese settlements' along "ith the shelters' should provide a health! and sa#e environment #or

its inhaitants' ut the! do not%

() camps initiated mass inoculations to cur the outrea& o# disease LandM securit!

issues plagued other camps%


his sho"s that the arrac&s st!le settlements do not even provide the asic health and sa#et!

re>uirements o# a settlementF in realit! the! o##er the opposite' some"here plagued !

securit! issues and disease outrea&s%

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!.$ Anal"sis o) current standards

he planning o# the settlement has een sho"n to e critical in creating the t!pe o# settlement

"hich is de#ined at the start o# this dissertationF ho"ever' settlements do not .ust provide

shelter = sanitation' "ater and h!giene are #undamental re>uirements in the recover! process%

:urrent standards #or shelter constantl! mention the importance o# these #actors' and the

prolems "hich the! can cause i# not addressed correctl!%

he need #or "ater is essential #or human survival' so the presence o# it in a relie# Gone can e

a matter o# li#e or death% he sphere pro.ect (200-) have several guidelines to ho" "ater

should e implemented and the importance o# it is stated as

Water is essential #or li#e' health and human dignit!% /n etreme

situations' there ma! not e su##icient "ater availale to meet asic

needs'and in these cases suppl!ing a survival level o# sa#e drin&ing "ater

is o# critical importance%

:learl!' the inclusion o# "ater planning is essential to recover! #rom a disaster% he prolems

caused ! dirt! "ater can e severe' it can ecome the reeding ground #or several diseases

including malaria and sleeping sic&ness% Ho"ever' lac& o# "ater can e e>uall! as devastating

as dirt! "ater% here#ore its important to ensure the correct amount o# sa#e "ater is accessile

to the population o# camps% :orsellis and Iitale (2004) state the main #actors "hich should e

considered "hen planning "ater and sanitation schemes is population densit! (%%%%)C this is

ecause it has a large e##ect on the occupants access to "ater' sanitation and "aste disposal%

Ho"ever' there is several determining #actors including the use o# occupants' "hich can var!

#or religious' cultural' climatic reasons etc% he citing o# the "ater source' and the distance to

e "al&ed should also e considered "hen planning a settlement #or disaster victims%

/n a disaster situation' a critical part o# preventing an outrea& o# disease is the

h!gienic disposal o# human "aste%


Water and sanitation are closel! lin&ed' and e##ective sanitation relies on "ater as "ell as

similar considerations into the population o# settlements% anitation also re#ers to the e##ective

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disposal o# #ood "aste' "aste "ater and disease vectors (:halinder' 199-)% /# this isnt dealt

"ith correctl! then it is an ovious threat% E##ective sanitation relies upon t"o aspectsF one' the

correct planning o# a sanitation strateg! and construction o# the latrines and t"o' the correct

human response and use o# the #acilities%

he &e! prolem is that the people "ho have een a##ected ! a disaster and thus see&

settlement "ithin a camp "ill e su.ect to a larger densit! o# people then the! are use to

"ithin rural areas% A select #e" o# this population "ill e use to latrines' ut #or the ma.orit! o#

these people the! "ould not e #amiliar "ith them% /t is this lac& o# &no"ledge "hich causes

the spread o# disease' ho"ever e##ective the sanitation strateg! is' the un#amiliarit! "ith the

latrines "ill cause improper use and poor h!gienic conditions (:halinder' 199-)% Dor this to e

controlled' it is advisale to educate people in h!giene to prevent the spread o# disease' a

#urther option is to construct latrines similar to "hich the occupants o# the settlements "ould

e accustomed to%

+ealing "ith #ood "aste is not a large prolem in itsel#' ut needs to e controlled to reduce

the spread o# disease vectors% he simplest "a! is to simpl! deposit it in holes' ut this re>uires

laour each and ever! time a ne" hole needs to e provided% /n large settlements' "ith a high

population densit!' this can >uic&l! ecome impracticale% Another solution is to organise a

"aste removal scheme' this provides a cleaner environment "ithin the settlement' and

although it "ill cost oth time and mone! to initiall! set up' it has the opportunit! to create

emplo!ment #or people "ithin the settlement%

Ho" "aste and sur#ace "ater is drained should also e a ma.or considerationF together the!

pose several ris&s to the inhaitants o# the settlement' #rom the reeding o# disease' to the ris&

o# #looding% he phere ro.ect handoo& (200-) descrie sur#ace "ater as one o# the threats

that needs to e addressed' the prolems that not dealing "ith it can cause are given in the

tet%

he main health ris&s associated "ith sur#ace "ater are contamination o# "ater

supplies and the living environment' damage to toilets and d"ellings' vector

reeding and dro"ning%

he most e##ective "a! is to plan e#orehand' "ith care#ul site selection the ris& o# "ater

related threats can e minimised% +rainage "ill al"a!s e re>uired and the simplest solution is

19 ,# -2


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to use the gradient o# the site to drain "ater a"a! #rom the main settlement% his is usuall!

su##icient to &eep standing "ater to a minimum' and there#ore stop mos>uitoes reeding in the

stagnant "ater the! re>uire #or reproduction%

!.# Megastructures as disaster relie) strategies

he de#inition o# megastructure "as given earlier in this dissertation and #orms the asis o# the

discussion in this section% /n addition to this' the de#initions used #or oth shelter and

settlement should also e considered' as the principles o# the megastructure "ill e anal!sed

against these' to see i# the! are suitale%

/# the de#inition #or shelter "hich "as derived at the start is ta&en' then it is ovious that a

megastructure "ould provide such shelter% Ho"ever' the "a! in "hich it provides shelter' and

the method it uses to help recover! in an area a#ter disaster' is consideral! di##erent to the

standard shelters (tents and plastic sheeting) that are o#ten used% he megastructure "ill e

compared to the tents and current standards' to see i# it shares or overcomes an! o# the

prolems%

/n his 197 &e! tet helter a#ter disaster /an +avis states that there is three strategies #or

creating shelter% he! are housing survivalC "here the uildings are designed to "ithstand a

disaster' this is the most #avourale ut rarel! possile in poor areas% he second is #illing the

gapC "hich is the implementation o# temporar! shelter' ho"ever this is disli&ed ! the people

eing displaced% he #inal is accelerated reconstructionC this is "here the uilding o#

permanent structures egins as soon as possile' "ith the shortest uild time' this method is

the second est #or dealing "ith disaster% A megastructure "ould #all in et"een accelerated

reconstructionC and #illing the gapC its modular units could e used as initial temporar!

shelter then epanded to create a ne" settlement in the #orm o# a megastructure%

When people are displaced ! a disaster there are ver! #e" options #or settlement #or them% /n

current guidelines ! helter :entre (2010) and :orsellis N Iitale' (2004) these options have

een placed into categories' "here megastructures #all into the categor! o# lanned :amps%

20 ,# -2


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lanned camps are places "here displaced populations #ind accommodation on

purpose=uilt sites' and a #ull services in#rastructure is provided' including "ater

suppl!' #ood distriution' non=#ood item distriution' education' and health care'

usuall! eclusivel! #or the population o# the site%(:orsellis N Iitale' 2004)%

he megastructure is designed in modular units and thus can e constructed rapidl!% /# the

asic units are the same #or each megastructure' "ith the purpose o# these units eing

adaptale to the disasters re>uirements i%e% several units could e used as shelter' "ith #e"er

eing used as latrines' then one or t"o eing used #or education or health care purposes% he!

"ould e mass produced and pre=#aricated e#ore a disaster happens' and stored until

needed% hese modules "ould provide the asic accommodation "hich is re>uired in a

planned camp% he! "ould e transported to the disaster Gone immediatel! to provide initial

shelter #or the victims' "hile construction o# a more stale and large structure "as eing

underta&en' once completed the modules could plug=in to this to create a to"n or cit!%

An important design #eature o# oth the megastructure and planned camps is the

in#rastructure%

he plug=in cit! is set up ! appl!ing a large scale net"or&=structure' containing

access "a!s and essential services to an! terrain%

(:oo&' 1993)

his >uote sho"s that a megastructure is ased around its in#rastructure% he h!phenated

net"or&=structure gives the impression o# collaoration et"een oth services and structure'

"here the! oth "or& in harmon! to provide such a large structure "ith services "hich can e

provided and accessed e##ortlessl!% his integration "ould e &e! to the megastructures use as

a disaster relie# strateg!' "ith the services #ull! integrated' less planning "ould e needed to

get the camp started and the process o# accelerated reconstruction can egin sooner%

21 ,# -2


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Figure ): The network*structure

A recent A+ (200) studied the implementation o# modular megastructures' and man! ideas

"here studied to see ho" the structures "ould e manu#actured and transported around "ith

current technolog!' as "ell as loo&ing at the in#rastructure and logistics ehind megastructures%

() haitation spheres' manu#actured li&e ships #rom vast modular su assemlies%

Dloated #rom covered !ards on pontoons' the! are airli#ted #or segmental deliver!

an!"here in the "orld ! #leets o# high=capacit! #reight airships

(A+' 200)

his idea aout haitation spheres is at the etreme o# megastructure production' "ith the

"hole structure eing pre=#aricated and shipped o# to areas around the "orld' ho"ever' it

does sho" that the logistics are in place to produce such structures% ,n a smaller scale' "hereonl! the asic modular units are produced and shipped' "ith the structure eing manu#actured

closer to the disaster' then the megastructure is a possile solution #or dealing "ith a disaster

through the method o# #illing the gapC and then continue into accelerated reconstructionC%

22 ,# -2


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Figure +: &a,itation s-heres

his sho"s a megastructure could #ul#il the traditional roles o# a planned camp% /t could provide

oth initial accommodation and an integrated in#rastructure and there#ore respond to the

guidelines set out% Ho"ever' a megastructure could also cause prolems' and might con#lict

"ith several o# the guides%

/n transitional settlement displaced populations (:orsellis N Iitale' 2004)' "hen planning a

camp' an important aspect is livelihood and an! camp should there#ore e ale to still have

provide integration ac& in to local communities% his "ould not e a issue "ith a

megastructure' as an!one could easil! #lo" in and out%

,ne o# the &e! statements made ! :orsellis N Iitale (2004) is he support o##ered to the

displaced population should not raise their standard o# living e!ond that o# the local

populationC this is also ac&ed up in the sphere handoo& Aid "or&ers ma! #ind themselves in

a situation "here the normal standard o# living in a countr! is so poor that the phere

minimums actuall! o##er a etter standard o# livingC (Architecture #or Humanit!' 200' citing

phere)% his is a large prolem #or a megastructure and "ould e a reason #or one as a

disaster relie# strateg!% he amount o# technolog! that is invested into creating such a structure

"ould inevital! lead to a shelter "here the standard o# living could e eceptionall! higher

23 ,# -2


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then that o# the local population% @o matter ho" simpli#ied the megastructure could ecome'

it "ould still provide etter accommodation then that availale locall! "ithin poor disaster

regions%

Another part o# the guide is dedicated to laour' and it is recommended that local laour"ould e used' as this has the advantage o# involving the displaced population "ith the

construction' letting them gain #amiliarit! "ith their shelters and possil! the development o#

ne" s&ills or pa!ment in #ood etc% (:orsellis N Iitale' 2004) Ho"ever' due to the technical

nature o# a megastructure this "ould not e possile% /nstead' the laour "ould need to e

contracted in' and the victims "ould not e involved% his generates man! prolems' most

predominantl! it "ould hinder the econom! o# a disaster Gone ! not using local laour' it

"ould also alienate the victims #rom their shelters' "hich is a similar prolem to that o# tents

(+avis' 1977)%

he megastructure "ould also su##er #rom prolems "ith cost' much li&e the current use o#

tents% Ho"ever' the megastructure is oviousl! a much larger structure then a single tent' and

uses much more technologicall! advanced materials and s!stems so this prolem "ould e

etremel! escalated% his prolem "ith cost is one o# the iggest ostacles to overcome i# a

megastructure is to e to used as a disaster relie# shelter%

o o##set the cost o# a tent' then the aspect o# time and ul& is considered% A settlement o#

tents can easil! e erected in a #e" hours' since several can e delivered simultaneousl!% Even

"hen the modules o# a megastructure are pre=#aricated then transported to the site' the siGe

o# such modules ma&es it impossile to transport several at one time meaning that a

settlement "ould ta&e consideral! longer to ecome estalished' and this is not possile in

such an emergenc!%

As "ell' these modules onl! consist o# the living units or shelter' the! do not provide a

su##icient in#rastructure "hich is provided "ithin the structure these modules plug into%

Ho"ever' to provide this' then a gigantic "e o# intert"ined steel tues and cranes "ould need

to e constructed alongside the modules% he megastructure "ould eventuall! provide all that

is needed #or this disaster settlement to gro" into a communit!' ut the time=scale at "hich it

"ould ta&e to provide this is not #easile in such crises%

2- ,# -2


25/42

/# !ou revie" the description o# a megastructure' !ou "ill notice "ords such as over=scaled'

rute and colossal ut "hen !ou thin& o# a disaster shelter the the "ords small=scale'

s!mpathetic' temporar! and speed are more easil! associated "ith such shelter% he drastic

scale o# a megastructure is something that has not een considered in this part o# the

dissertation' ut it "ould e a deciding #actor in "hether a megastructure could e used as ashelter a#ter disaster% /n an environment "here disaster victims are un"illing to accept even

the smallest o# shelters that are not recognisale to them (+avis' 1977)' then such a large

structure "ould indeed e etremel! alien%

When it is criticall! anal!sed' then the megastructure is not #easile as a "hole to ecome a

solution to shelter a#ter disaster% As a complete structure' !es' it "ould provide "hat is

re>uired in the guides to produce a camp' a camp #ull o# shelters and a secure environment' it

"ould even provide the opportunit! #or such a communit! to gro" into to"n and cit!%

Ho"ever' this is onl! s&imming over the sur#ace o# guides' the #aults "ith a megastructure start

to appear "hen the details and logistics ehind such architecture are studied more closel!%

uch a gigantic piece o# architecture is reall! not suitale to protect disaster victims' eing o#

such a large=scale it "ouldnt provide shelter in a time=scale "hich is acceptale directl! a#ter a

disaster% he cost o# such a structure is too etreme' and could not e a##orded ! agencies

"ho "ant to provide shelter #or such a vulnerale population o# people' people "ho ma! not

even accept such uns!mpathetic architecture% /t "ould also cause social upheaval' providing

disaster victims "ith accommodation that could e o# consideral! etter >ualit! then that

usuall! availale to the local population%

Ho"ever' i# the individual characteristics o# the megastructure are studied' then it does provide

some promising ideas #or the #uture o# disaster relie#% ,ne o# the underl!ing principles o# the

megastructure is this principle o# uilding hierarch!' "here certain aspects outlast others' eter

:oo& (1993) discusses this several times in a pulication aout Archigram' he sa!s

he longest=lasting elements tend to e at the ase o# the structure "ith the

shortest= lasting situated at the top e%g% #aster roads and monorail at the top' par&ing

roads at the ottom%

/# this idea o# hierarch! could e ta&en #or"ard into camp planning' or shelter design it could e

used to create a temporar! camp' uilt around a permanent core o# roads and services% /t could

24 ,# -2


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also e used to design temporar! shelters #or victims to live in' ut leave these "ith permanent

uildings #or health care or education%

he principle o# pre=#arication and modularit! should also e considered "hen designing a

shelter% /t is not necessar! that the "hole shelter is created o## site' and then #lo"n in% orerealisticall! the process could e use to provide the victims o# a disaster "ith simple pre=

#aricated "alls or #oundations onto "hich the! could uild a shelter suitale #or their needs'

this "ould also create that sense o# communit!' "ith people helping each other and local

laour eing used to create such shelters% his practice is alread! eing loo&ed at and is

eamined in Architecture #or Humanit!s (200) &e! tet on the su.ect%

Because roo#s and #oundations tend to e the most di##icult and epensive

components o# a house' man! @,s have adopted a strateg! o# uilding core

housingC as a staple o# reconstruction and development "or&%

!. Anal"sis o) new shelter design

/t is ecoming more common that shelter design is moving a"a! #rom the use o# tents' and

to"ards a design "hich responds more to the climate' t!pe o# disaster and needs o# the

victims% Both helter :entre' Architecture #or Humanit! and $@H:5 have recentl! released

pulications "hich sho"case these ne" ideas%

A select #e" o# these pro.ects "ill no" e anal!sed to see ho" the! provide shelter and create

a communit!% he! "ill e anal!sed against the current canvas tent' to see ho" the! improve

upon the design and studied to see i# an! comparisons et"een megastructure philosoph! and

the design principles can e dra"n out%

he #irst pro.ect that "ill e anal!sed is the prestigious tent' ut more importantl! its current

re=design% he *ight"eight Emergenc! ent is a pro.ect ! $@H:5 designed to replace the

current canvas tent% he ne" tent design not onl! deals "ith single shelters' ut "as also

designed to improve camp planning% ($@H:5' 2004)

2 ,# -2


27/42

his *ight"eight Emergenc! ent aims to overcome the

prolems "ith the current canvas tent' eventuall! see&ing to

replace it% he ne" tent is made #rom s!nthetic materials'

allo"ing them to e stoc&piled "ithout the ris& o# rot ordegradation% he use o# s!nthetic materials' also means the

ne" tents are over hal# the "eight o# a canvas tent (-2%4 &g and

110 &g respectivel!) reducing the cost o# shipping and allo"ing

#or easier handling%

:umersome canvas tents re>uired as man! as #our

people to carr!% A man transports the ne" design on

the ac& o# a ic!cle in reug ae' /ndonesia% he

tent pac&s in a carr!ing case and can easil! e erected%


he! aid "ith camp planning through the overhaul in design%

he tue design allo"s #or gu! ropes to e placed at onl! the

#ront and rear o# the tent' this allo"s the tents to e erected

closer together "ithin a planned camp' #reeing up space in

et"een #or in#rastructure or #urther amounts o# tents% /t also

helps "ith the creation o# a settlement' the tents can e

staggered "ithout a great loss o# space% his ensures no tents

overloo& each other creating a sense o# privac! and securit! #or

the occupants%

he most innovative aspect o# the design is its recognition #or

privac! (%) the designers created a #aric partition to divide

the tent' creating a semiprivate space "here "omen can

change and parents can sleep a"a! #rom children%


his sho"s ho" $@H:5 have tried to create an emergenc! tent

"hich etter provides #or the needs o# the occupants% he

provision o# privac! is &e! to creating oth a shelter and a

27 ,# -2

Figure .: Series of images

showing the lightweight

tent


28/42

settlement

he net pro.ect to e anal!sed is more radical then the tent re=design and is called uper

Adoe% /t "as constructed #or /ra>i re#ugees and consists o# large dome shelters constructed o#

sandags' earth and ared "ire% Adoe is an old uilding techni>ueF super adoe uilds uponthis techni>ue' ta&ing it #urther ! #using modern technolog! "ith tested techni>ues' to create

>uic& and stale temporar! shelters%

uperadoe is an adoe that is stretched #rom histor! into the ne" centur!% /t is li&e

an umilical cord connecting the traditional "ith the #uture adoe "orld%

(httpJOOcalearth%orgOuilding=designsO"hat=is=superadoe%html' citing @ader halili)

Figure /: Cal*Earth's Su-er A"o,e construction

Ho"ever simple the materials and #orm ma! seem' the underl!ing principles are astounding%

/ts asic principle is descried as LtoM $tiliGe minimum amounts o# purchased product and

maimum amounts o# the #ree earth under !our #eet%C ! the creators calearth%

(httpJOOcalearth%orgOuilding=designsOemergenc!=sandag=shelter%html)% he simple

construction using onl! 3 materials' one "hich can e #ound an!"here' created a lo" cost

shelter% Also' eing so simple' a shelter constructed using super adoe can e uilt an!"here'

! an!one%

28 ,# -2


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he asic philosoph! "as that it "as lo" cost% eople could do it themselves% Women

can uild it 6 thats ver! important

(Architecture #or Humanit!' 200' citing @ader halili)

he shelter has also een tested to "ithstand oth hurricanes and earth>ua&es' creating an

etremel! sa#e and stale shelter%

he super adoe construction method ma! not e as cheap as tents' ut it does provide the

disaster victims "ith a shelter the! have produced themselves' the! can #inish it ho" the!

"ish' so this alien negativit! to"ards tents isnt produced% he structure is easil! dismantled

as its main element is earth' so it .ust returns to "here it came #rom%

Also' an! other uilding material can e re=used ! the occupants to uild a more permanent

structure' this produces Gero "aste #rom the shelters% his simple construction design also

means that onl! t"o elements o# the shelter need to e provided ! aid agencies' these

light"eight elements can e transported rapidl! to enale the construction o# shelter to

>uic&l! egin a#ter a disaster%

he net t!pe o# design is called core housing and has een used in di##erent areas throughout

the "orld% he asic principle ehind core housing is that the #oundations and roo# are

supplied' as "ell as a structural core' the victims are then le#t to construct the shelter ho" the!

"ish' and "hen mone! ecomes availale%

he structure is a core s!stem mad o# t"o #ree=standing oesJ ,ne encloses an

toilet' the other a hearth' internal cistern and sho"er% Beams connect the t"o oes'

creating enough space #or a ed%


29 ,# -2


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Figure 0: A sim-le core shelter in Chechnya

his principle o# onl! providing the core' allo"s #or the involvement o# victims "ithin the

construction% his has t"o ene#its' it creates a communit! spirit' giving people the

opportunit! to e involved "ith the creation o# their shelters and surrounding communit!%

Also' ! involving people "ithin the construction' training can e given' teaching people

valuale s&ills' it also strengthens the lin& et"een reconstruction and .o creationC providing

an area "ith a oost to a struggling econom!% (Architecture #or Humanit!' 200)%

he core shelter also provides an opportunit! #or epansion' allo"ing #amil!s to etend the

shelters i# the! need to later on% his #leiilit! o# space provides a shelter "hich is suitale to

several Gones throughout the "orld and can easil! e adapted #or several climates%

he height o# the core shelter allo"ed #amilies to etend in all directions% /t "as

designed "ith a "ooden ring eam t"o metres #rom the ground so that a meGGanine

#loor could e uilt #or emergenc! use%

($@=Haitat' 2010)

When compared to tents' these core houses are consideral! more epensive' ut the! do

provide a permanent shelter #or people unli&e a temporar! tent% he cores also have the

capailit! to provide services such as pluming and electricit!' reducing the need to plan this

"ithin the settlement% Also' much li&e the super adoe ! involving people "ithin the shelter

construction' the! "ill e more li&el! to use the shelters as the! are designed ho" the! "ish%

30 ,# -2


31/42

he core housing also shares some principles "ith megastructures in its use o# pre=#arication%

he pre=#aricated core serves a similar purpose to the modules "ithin a megastructure' oth

#orming the asis o# the settlement% he structural elements "hich hold the megastructure

together are replaced ! the roads and in#rastructure o# the settlement' "ith the shelterscreating the core' ut in principle oth share similar design philosophies%

he net pro.ect' is one named ransitional :ommunit! its aim "as to provide temporar!

shelter using materials "hich could e re=purposed "hen the construction o# permanent

housing too& place% /t also too& the communit! into consideration' ensuring that displaced

#amilies "here not moved a"a! #rom people the! &ne"' instead integrated ac& into the

eisting communit!% (Architecture #or Humanit!' 200)

he design o# the shelters "as not radical in an!"a!' unli&e others loo&ed at in this dissertation'

the! "ere simple shelters constructed o# "ood' loc& "or&' and corrugated metal% Ho"ever'

the planning ehind the settlement "as di##erent to others' ,#am ensured that the victims

themselves "here involved in design' this "as &e! to this pro.ect% As a result the shelters

design met government approval and displaced #amilies needs%C (Architecture #or Humanit!'

200)

he displaced #amilies also "anted to sta! "ithin the communit!' close to amenities such as

education and healthcare% o ensure this' ,#am uilt transitional shelters until land #or

permanent ones ecame availale%

he shelters "ere designed so that the! could e dismantled a#ter a !ear% imer

.oints "ere olted' and the #loor "as made #rom cement tiles rather then a solid

sla%


o aid reconstruction' ,#am also provided permanent structures' "hich "ould ene#it the

"hole communit!' not .ust the temporar! shelters% his is an eample o# the communit!

hierarch! discussed in the megastructure section' ! providing oth temporar! shelters and

permanent #acilities' onl! the temporar! shelters need to e replaced' and the communit! "ill

continue to thrive and gro" on its permanent #oundations%

31 ,# -2


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!. Anal"sis within Climatic 2ones

he past 3 sections have anal!sed several elements o# megastructures and disaster relie#% he

#indings "ill e accumulated in this section' and used to provide "hat / elieve are &e!

considerations to e implemented "hen uilding a disaster relie# shelter and camp' dra"ing

#rom oth megastructure philosophies and ne" shelter design% he considerations are not onl!

#ound upon "ithin the anal!sis carried out here' ut also to create the t!pe o# shelter and

settlement descried at the outset% hese &e! considerations "ill then e used to descrie

ho" a shelter strateg! might e placed "ithin a certain climatic Gone%

he considerations are to' as #ollo"s J=

1% Dull! involve those a##ected 6 his is proal! the &e! consideration% B! getting people

involved' then the! "ill e more responsive to the settlement' creating a sa#er and

healthier atmosphere% /t also provides the opportunit! to teach victims ne" s&ills' and

provide an income in a devastated econom!%

2% rovide pre=#aricated core shelters 6 he core shelter is ecoming a #airl! common

response to shelter needs ecause o# its versatilit!% /t is a transitional shelter allo"ing

the occupants to adapt and re=locate the core into a permanent shelter and

communit!% he core shelter can also orro" principles #rom the megastructure' as

these asic pre=#aricated cores #orm the asis o# a larger settlement%

3% $se local materials 6 $sing core shelter' allo"s #or local techni>ues and materials to e

used #or "all' roo# and #loor construction% his reduces the need #or shipping to onl!

the minimal parts% B! using local materials' the victims "ill e ale to complete their

shelter to a standard the! "ish' and ensures there is no negativit! to"ards an alien

shelter%

-% rovide #or the communit! 6 uch li&e the hierarch! emplo!ed in megastructure

design' it can e use#ul to provide permanent amenities "hich "ill outlast the

transitional shelter% his provision gives a asis #or the settlement to gro" into a

communit!%

32 ,# -2


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hese considerations seem simple' ut the! een derived #rom the anal!sis o# ne" shelter

design' settlement consideration and shelter case studies% he use o# core shelter and local

materials "ill no" e anal!sed against di##erent climatic Gones to see ho" the! could e

adapted to provide "hat is necessar! in each climate% he provision #or the communit! "ill

di##er #rom site to site and settlement to settlement' so cannot easil! e anal!sed' ho"ever ageneral overvie" o# ho" this consideration could e used "ill e included at the end%

he #irst climatic Gone to e anal!sed "ill e a ropical climate% A tropical climate "ill su##er

mostl! #rom H!drological disasters such as #loods' c!clones etc% (:5E+' 2009)%

Dor the purpose o# this anal!sis' the displaced population "ill e due to a #lood and c!clone'

such as :!clone idr "hich occurred in Bangladesh in 2007% ($@=Haitat' 2010)

When designing the t!pe o# core housing "hich "ill e used as transitional shelter' it is

important to understand "hat ris&s "ill e #aced% Dor a climate prone to #looding then elevating

the shelter #rom the ground is most important' to ensure the shelter cannot e #looded% he

shelter must also provide ade>uate protection' so in the case o# Bangladesh' a core house

"ould include a raised plinth to prevent #urther #looding' and structural elements o# the "all to

provide an ade>uate ase to adapt to their needs% /n terms o# services' then the core house

should include pluming as the availailit! o# health! "ater "ill e disrupted ! the #loods%

When shipping necessar! parts #or this t!pe o# core shelter' onl! the structural elements o# the

"all and a corrugated roo# "ould e re>uired% An element o# the structure containing the

necessar! pluming "ould also e shipped% he plinth can e constructed on site using adoe

or rammed earth "hich is readil! availale% he "alls "ould also e constructed ! the #amil!

itsel#' t!pical "all construction could consist o# deris #rom destro!ed shelter or the use o#

"oven amoo% ($@=Haitat' 2010)

he second anal!sis "ill still e in a ropical climate' ut "ill loo& at sites e##ected !

earth>ua&es' an eample o# this "ould e Haiti' and the earth>ua&e "hich struc& in 2010%

he core housing used to provide transitional shelter in Haiti should e earth>ua&e and

hurricane resistant as these provide the greatest threat% here#ore the most important aspect

o# this transitional shelter "ould e its stailit!% he pre=#arication o# structural elements

"hich provide this stailit!' and "hich "alls and roo#s can e attached' should e considered

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the asis o# this core shelter% he onl! necessar! parts o# this structure to e pre=#aricated and

shipped "ould e the structureF an eample o# this "ould e a "ooden #rame "ith a trussed

roo#%

he use o# local material "ould e needed to complete the structure' and the occupants o# theshelters "ould need to ecome involved "ith this procedure% An eample o# this is the shelter

provided in Haiti ! Handicap international (acca' 2010)

he lateral L"allM panels are installed according to the clissadeC techni>ue

(intert"ined slats)% raditionall! used in Haiti' this techni>ue presents eas! repairs

and #itting possiilities%

his >uote sho"s ho" local materials and techni>ues can e used to complete a core shelter%

his creates "illingness to adopt the shelter' and provides occupants "ith the ailit! to repair

and re=construct shelters ecause local techni>ues are used%

he third anal!sis "ill loo& at a emperate climate' an eample o# this "ill e ta&en as @e"

,rleans' *ouisiana% A cit! devastated ! hurricane atrina in 2004%

When developing shelter #or a cit!' the needs are completel! di##erent to that o# a rural area%

ost victims "ill still have access to amenities and services such "ater and electricit!' so the

main provision is to provide shelter >uic&l! "ith lots o# privac!% he core o# these shelters

should e designed around privac! needs such as toilets and sho"ers' the core "ill consist o#

t"o oes' one containing a toilet' the other a sho"er% (Architecture #or Humanit!' 200)

he plug in nature o# this shelter shares the same principles o# the megastructure' allo"ing #or

shelter to e provided ! .ust attaching itsel# to an eisting structure% he cores have this

adaptailit! to create a shelter #rom ruins' giving amenities to an other"ise derelict structure%

A pro.ect called etreme housing used this principle%

he structure is a core s!stem made o# t"o #ree standing oes () his easil!

assemled transitional structure can eventuall! ecome the core o# a permanent

structure or plug into a semi=destro!ed home%


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Figure 1: Core housing; showing the two free*stan"ing ,oes

his >uote descries sho"s that design o# this core shelter allo"s #or it to e used alongside a

semi=destro!ed home or as part o# a temporar! structure% he nature in "hich this core shelter

could e adapted allo"s #or di##erent uses% he "alls and #loors could e uilt up around this

core #rom reconstituted rule or the cores themselves could e placed alongside a destro!ed

"all%

rovision #or the communit! is the last recommendation given' it is derived #rom the ,#am

ransitional :ommunities programme as "ell as the megastructures philosophies on

hierarch!% he considerations aim is to provide a permanent #iture that allo"s not .ust a

settlement' ut a communit! o# people to gro" #rom the transitional shelters and camps%

he asics o# this permanent #iture is the core o# the shelters provided' these cores are re=

usale in permanent structures' or the transitional shelters epanded and improved to provide

permanent shelter% he consideration does not end there though' much li&e the latrines

provided in the ransitional :ommunities pro.ect' a permanent #iture should e provided

"hich ene#its the "hole communit!% his could include permanent structures #or schools or

health service% /t could also leave the settlement "ith a "or&ing in#rastructure o# roads or a

"or&ing amount o# services%

o conclude' the adaptailit! o# core shelters ma&es them usale throughout the "orld% hese

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#e" case studies sho" ho" a core shelter can e adapted to the needs o# di##erent disasters

and climatic Gones% he! have the ailit! to provide a core o# services or shelter' and a simple

structure allo"s #or the use o# local materials and involvement o# the victims to #inish the

shelter and provide a start=up econom!%

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$.0 Conclusion

hroughout this dissertation the main purpose has een to criticall! anal!se the use o#

megastructures as oth a relie# strateg!' and i# this "as decided to e un=#easale then the

architectural principles ehind the megastructure to e anal!sed against current thin&ing in the

#ield o# shelter design to see i# the! share an! similar principles% he initial section dealt "ith

the derivation o# the "ords shelter and settlement "ould e ta&en to mean throughout the

stud!% his initial description is important as it #orms the asis o# the dissertation' and gives

in#ormation to anal!se against in each section%

he second section provided an overvie" o# the $@ tent and current standards provided !

several charitale organisations% he purpose o# this section "as to provide a design o# shelter

and a set o# standards to compare the #ollo"ing sections against% he anal!sis proved ver!

critical o# the tent' under=covering several shortcomings o# not onl! the design ut also the

procurement and logistics o# the shelter% he iggest prolems "ith the tent "here #ound to e

the logistics o# suppl!J although the tents "ere stoc&piled' the! "ould rarel! arrive to a disaster

Gone during the greatest period o# need' conse>uentl! rarel! providing the initial shelter the!

are designed to give%

he third section anal!sed the use o# a megastructure as a strateg! #or disaster relie#% he initial

anal!sis against the standards provided ! the charitale organisations sho"ed that the

megastructure "ould indeed provide "hat is needed a#ter a disaster' such as shelter and a

settlement % Ho"ever' "hen the siGe and scale o# a megastructure egan to e considered' it

"as ovious that such a large=scale piece o# architecture "ould e to costl! and cumersome

to provide a su##icient disaster shelter% Although the use o# a megastructure "as disregarded'

several o# the principles ehind the megastructure still stood strong% he most prominent ones

to e ta&en #or"ard "here the use o# pre=#arication and modulation o# shelter' as "ell as the

hierarch! o# construction and in#rastructure%

he section aout ne" shelter design "as used to generate ideas on ho" shelter should e

dealt "ith% hese ideas "ould e used alongside the use o# concepts #rom the anal!sis o# the

megastructure% he anal!sis sho"ed ho" ne" shelter design see&s to provide #acilities e!ond

that o# .ust shelter' the eamples studied provided permanent housing' s&ill "or&shops and

additions to the a##ected communit!% he! also sho"ed ho" the involvement o# the displaced

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population in the construction o# the shelters' helps stop the alien nature o# shelter% he

section also sho"ed a similarit! et"een ne" shelters and the principles o# the megastructure'

the use o# pre=#aricated cores is especiall! prominent%

he #inal section rought together the #indings' providing a list o# "hat / #eel are &e!considerations to e used "hen designing' providing and constructing disaster relie# shelters% /t

sho"s ho" a collaoration et"een megastructure principles and ne" shelter design can e

used to create a etter shelter and settlement% he largest conclusion dra"n #rom this

chapter is that transitional core shelters should no" e used% his t!pe o# shelter is etremel!

adaptale and can e pre=#aricated and modulated to per#orm several di##erent tas&s "ithin

several di##erent climates% he use o# the core allo"s #or epandailit! into permanent housing'

and helps create a stale communit!%

he overall stud! has sho"n that megastructures are un=#easale as a disaster relie# shelter'

ho"ever the principles and architectural concepts o# the megastructure can e ta&en #or"ard

into shelter design% he principle o# pre=#arication and modularit! is most prominent in the

use o# core shelters and the hierarch! o# elements and services emplo!ed "ithin the

megastructure can e seen in the provision o# temporar! and permanent shelters' roads and

in#rastructure advised "ithin the #inal section% ,verall' this proves the h!pothesis correct'

sho"ing that principles o# the modular megastructures e put into practice to create a etter

disaster relie# shelter%

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(e)erences

A+ (200)% anma"e o"ular egastructures% West usseJ Wile!=Academ!%

Architecture #or Humanit! (200)% 3esign 4ike 5ou 6i(e a 3amn: Architectural es-onses to&umanitarian Crises% *ondonJ hames and Hudson *td%

Banham' 5 (197)% egastructure: ur,an future of the recent -ast% *ondonJ hames and

Hudson *td%

:al=Earth% (n%d%)% Emergency San",ag Shelter7 AvailaleJ httpJOOcalearth%orgOuilding=

designsOemergenc!=sandag=shelter%html% *ast accessed 31st arch 2011%

:al=Earth% (n%d%)% 8hat is Su-era"o,e97 AvailaleJ httpJOOcalearth%orgOuilding=designsO"hat=is=

superadoe%html% *ast accessed 31st arch 2011%

:halinder' A (199-)% 6oo" Practice e(iew 1: 8ater an" Sanitation in Emergencies7*ondonJ

5elie# and 5ehailitation @et"or&%

:oo&' (1972)%Archigram% *ondonJ tudio Iista ulishers%

:orsellis' and Iitalle' A (2004)% Transitional Settlements: 3is-lace" Po-ulations% ,#ordJ

,#am B%

:5E+ (he :enter #or 5esearch on Epidemiolog! o# +isasters) (2010)%Annual 3isaster Statistical

e(iew 20: The num,ers an" tren"s7 BelgiumJ :5E+%

:5E+ (2011)% 21: "isasters in num,ers% eneva' 2- anuar! 2011% enevaJ :5E+%

+avis' / (1978)% Shelter After 3isaster% ,#ordJ ,#ord ol!technic ress%

acca' + (2010)% Transitional Shelter7 n%dJ Handicap /nternational%

helter :entre (2010)%Annual e-ort 20 217 enevaJ helter :entre%

phere ro.ect (200-) &umanitarian Charter an" inimum Stan"ar"s in

3isaster es-onse7enevaJ phere ro.ect%

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$@H:5 (2000) &an",ook for Emergencies7eneva' $@H:5%

$@H:5 (2004)% S-ecification of 4ight 8eight Emergency Tent7 enevaJ $@H:5

$nited @ations (200-)% Tents: A gui"e to the use an" logistics of family tents in humanitarian

relief7 enevaJ ,##ice Dor he :oordination o# Humanitarian A##airs (,:HAOEBO200-O19)%

$nited @ations (2009)% Shelter Proects 207 @airoiJ $@=Haitat%

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+ibliogra,h"

,liver' (200)%


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Megastructures as Disaster Shelters?

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