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 attri(uted 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%
1 ,# -2
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 colla(oration (et"een
megastructures and relie# shelters' and ultimatel! sho" ho" megastructure principles can (e
used to help design a (etter shelter%
2 ,# -2
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 e0tremel! di##icult% A
special than&s goes to 1aul 2ir(!' m! dissertation tutor' #or his invalua(le help and &no"ledge
"ithin the su(.ect area%
3 ,# -2
Contents
1.0 Introduction Pg. .
1%1 H!pothesis 1g% 4%
1%2 5elevance 1g% 4 6 8%
1%3 5esearch 7ethod 1g% 8 6 9%
1%- +e#inition o# )helter and )ettlement8s 1g% 9 6 10%
1%4 +e#inition o# 7egastructure 1g 11 6 13%
!.0 Anal"sis Pg. 1#.
2%1 Anal!sis o# current shelter 1g% 1- 6 19%
2%2 Anal!sis o# current settlement8s 1g% 19 6 17%
2%3 Anal!sis o# current standards 1g% 18 6 20%
2%- 7egastructures as disaster relie# strategies 1g% 20 6 29%
2%4 Anal!sis o# ne" shelter design 1g% 29 6 31%
2%9 Anal!sis "ithin :limatic ;ones 1g% 32 6 39%
$.0 Conclusion Pg. $% & $'.
(e)erences Pg. $* & #0.
+ibliogra,h" Pg. #1.
-igure List Pg. #!.
- ,# -2
1.0 Introduction
he ph!sical design o# our homes' neigh(ourhoods and communities shapes literall!
ever! aspect o# our lives% <et all too o#ten architects are desperatel! needed in the
places the! can least (e a##orded%
(Architecture #or Humanit!' 2009)
We o#ten thin& o# an Architect (eing used in the design o# high cost' prestigious developments'
(ut that is not to sa! that architectural concepts cannot (e used to help those "ho could not
normall! a##ord their services%
his is no"here more pertinent than "hen natural or man=made disaster stri&es% Wars'
hurricanes and earth>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#orta(le in (oth the short and long=term%
he shelter "hich is usuall! provided' ma! not (e suita(le 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 suita(le and (ene#icial to
the occupants%
1.1 .",othesis
his dissertation "ill loo& at the h!pothesis 8:an a modular megastructure (e a suita(le
disaster relie# shelter' i# not' can the principles o# the modular megastructures (e put into
practice to create a (etter disaster relie# shelter?8
1.! (ele/ance
@atural disasters "ill al"a!s (e a part o# our e0istence' 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 a(out disasters' and the "a! in
"hich a##ected #amilies are dealt "ith' can help to reduce these e##ects and commence the
4 ,# -2
recover! process more e##icientl! and e##ectivel! to aid recover!%
,ver the past thirt!=#ive !ears the num(er 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 catastrophic
earth>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 Aanuar! o# 2010' "as
seen as Bone 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 7illion 1eople)
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 people8s 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 19908s a seminal group o# architect8s &no"n as Archigram "or&ed on #uturistic and
idealistic schemes% ,ne o# their most #amous piece8s o# architecture is the 81lug in :it!8' 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%
9 ,# -2
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+ (E) the more the (etter% he! controversiall! suggest that humanit!
might create a "orld o# e0pansive mega cities%
(A+' 2009)
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!8s (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 pro(lems to that o# a mega structure' and the communit! such a structure "ould
provide% here#ore it is possi(le 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 isn8t #easi(le 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! pro(lems "hich
occur "hen designing a suita(le temporar! shelter #or disaster victims and survivors%
7 ,# -2
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 de(ated%
1.$ (esearch Method
7ost 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
o(tained 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 8shelter8
alongside 8settlement8' 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
8megastructure8' 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 8re=design8
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 pu(lications a(out modular mega
structures' and gain a "ide understanding o# "hat the! aim to achieve' and ho" the!
achieve this% $sing this in#ormation' a #easi(ilit! 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 e0amine ne" thin&ing "ithin the #ield' e0amining concepts regarding ne"
8 ,# -2
settlements and ideas "hich move a"a! #rom the standard tent% his section "ill loo&
(e!ond simpl! the shelterF it "ill consider communities' neigh(ourhoods and homes'
lin&ing closel! to the modular megastructures%
-% Will accumulate these ideas' (ringing together ideas #rom (oth mega structures and
ne" 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 colla(oration (et"een large scale architecture and small shelter design is #easi(le%
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) descri(es 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 e0penditure% 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%
E0panding 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 suita(le #or the
environment' and provide ade>uate protection against the "eather #or the people inha(iting
it% /t is also the .o( o# the shelter to ensure its inha(itants #eel secure' and sa#e #rom un"anted
human or animal interaction% he 8privac!8 and 8dignit!8 are (oth provided (! the shelter8s
8"alls8' to allo" #or this' the! must (e opa>ue' and opening8s have an appropriate covering' it
ma! (e necessar! #or a shelter to have several rooms or the a(ilit! to (e divided% $@H:5 also
sa!s that a shelter must provide a place to interact% Dor this' the shelter must have a
8communal8 space' large enough to accommodate its occupant8s #amil! and #riends%
,0#am HB have a similar description o# shelter in their pu(lication 8transitional settlement
displaced populations8 (ut the description "hich is more closel! lin&ed to this dissertation' and
9 ,# -2
more interesting is the one given #or transitional shelter% ransitional shelter is stated to (e
shelter "hich provides a ha(ita(le 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 dura(le shelter solution%
(:orsellis and Iitale' 2004)
he interesting part o# this description is the latter "here it descri(es "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! usa(le (et"een a certain time period' and "ill (e used until permanent shelter
has (een (uilt or (ecomes availa(le%
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 shelter8s the! provide a health! and secure place to live% he!
also provide e0tra amounts o# privac! to the people "ho live "ithin the settlement%
(:orsellis and Iitale' 2004)
he shelter centre also coined the term 8transitional settlement8 at a peer revie" session' it is
given the meaning o# Bsettlement and shelter resulting #rom con#lict and natural disasters'
ranging #rom emergenc! response to dura(le solutionsC (:orsellis and Iitale' 2004)% he term
8transitional8 is important in this as it emphasises the settlement8s 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 8transitional shelter8 and 8transitional settlement8 should provide victim8s 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
7egastructureF An over=scaled' colossal' multi=unit architectural mass
(Banham' 1979' citing :oo& and 2lotG' 1973)
Figure 2: The work of the futurist Sant' Elia;
Central ilan Station
7egastructures started out as idea8s during the 19908s the! evolved #rom the #uturists love #or
technolog! #or Bpiping and "iring and struts and cat="al&s and (ristling radar antennae and
supplementar! #uel tan&s and landing=pads all carried in e0posed lattice #ramesC (Banham'
1979)%
11 ,# -2
o (egin' these megastructures "ere uns!mpathetic pieces o# architecture' the! "ere designed
to such an e0tent 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 modules
could (e placed into this' creating an ever changing' ever adapta(le 8cit!8% 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'
1979' citing Wilco0on 1998)
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
)ant8Elia' and "hile the! can provide ever!thing that a cit! should need' the! still use
modularit! and are designed to (e e0traordinar! pieces o# architecture% An e0ample o# this is
Aonathan )ch"inge8s pro.ect 8:loud 1iercer8 descri(ed in 7anmade 7odular s (A+' 2004) asJ
(E) an oceanic vertical supercit! to meet the rate o# anticipated economic and
population gro"th throughout the "orld (E%) Each to"er contains all the #unctions o#
a cit!' and provides relie# to' and e0tension o#' overcro"ded old *ondon%
Figure !: Schwinge's 'Clou" Piercer'
12 ,# -2
Dor the conte0t o# this dissertation' the "ord megastructure "ill (e ta&en as a mi0ture o#
a(ove% /t "ill (e a (uilding o# signi#icant scale' "ith its (asic structure (eing #ormed (!
modularit!' (eing ever e0panda(le 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 e0isting
structures' helping to alleviate the pro(lems' not create more%
he term mega=structure "as coined (! Dumihi&o 7a&i in 199-% Although the de#inition is
some -9 !ears old' it is still as relevant toda! as it "as then' and per#ectl! descri(es the "ord
megastructure #or use in this dissertation asJ
(E) a large #rame in "hich all the #unctions o# a cit! or part o# a cit! are housed% /t has
(een made possi(le (! 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' 1979' citing 7a&i 199-)
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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!' 2009)
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
pro(lems "ith such tents' #rom the initial manu#acture' through to the small details "ithin the
design' and each o# these "ill (e studied%
Figure #: $%&C' Can(as Tent
he initial pro(lem "ith tents is the "eight o# them% he canvas tents are e0tremel! heav!'
causing them to (e cum(ersome and costl! to transport ($nited @ations' 200-)% his siGe and
"eight has &noc&=on e##ects on the transport and logistics o# the tent%
1- ,# -2
(E) "ith transport costs and development costs' emergenc! shelter costs as much
as 1m
2
o# permanent housing
(+avis' 1977)
his >uote (! +avis emphasises the current pro(lem 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' possi(l! "ee&s' or even months to construct% he #unction o# the tent is to
provide this temporar! shelter as >uic&l! as possi(le 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%
(E) 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 (%%%)
(Architecture #or Humanit!' 2009)
he logistics (ehind the use o# shelter can also cause pro(lems% +uring a crisis' an!thing and
ever!thing "ill (e sent% B5e#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 pro(lems' giving shelter that is not onl! unsuita(le #or
the climate and region the! are sent to' (ut also produces an environment "hich is detrimental
to the occupantsK health% (Architecture #or Humanit!' 2009)
)o #ar' onl! pro(lems "ith the manu#acture' transport and cost o# tents has (een considered%
Ho" a tent is #a(ricated "ill no" (e anal!sed' #ocussing on the (uilding methods and materials
"hich create the shelter%
hese canvas tents are also a pro(lem 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 9 months a#ter there production ($nited @ations' 200-)% o overcome this' man!
manu#acturers "ill procure tents as the demand increases' ho"ever this needs to (e (alanced
"ith the logistics o# the shipping and production times so not to create #urther pro(lems% he
pro(lem o# rot also causes pro(lems "ithin the #ield and shortens the li#espan and
e##ectiveness o# tents% Architecture #or Humanit! (2009) see this as one o# the largest pro(lems
14 ,# -2
o# canvas tents' and it is (rought up several times "ithin the pu(lication
(E) canvas tents "ere heav! and costl! to ship' and (ecause the canvas rots' the
tents deteriorated >uic&l! and could not (e stoc&piled #or long periods% Wear and
tear on the "ea&ened material in the #ield signi#icantl! shortened the use#ul li#espan
o# the shelter%
he nature o# the cotton used is such that it can shrin& "hen it (ecomes "et' causing #urther
issues "ith the tent% his shrin&age "ill ma&e the tent prone to lea&s' causing an environment
inside "hich is unhealth!% he use o# a #l! sheet is needed "ithin a tent to allo" ventilation' (ut
this can cause "ater to soa& in i# it8s touching the canvas' so this contact should (e avoided%
he smaller more a"&"ard parts o# a tent are also capa(le o# causing pro(lems% he gu! ropes
and pole are li&el! to snap' reducing the strength o# the canvas tent' this could cause the tent
to #ail' and collapse% /t8s also a possi(ilit! that the gu! ropes "ill tear the canvas "here the! are
attached% his can cause pro(lems "ith (oth structure and "aterproo#ing% ($nited @ations'
200-)
)helter also creates several pro(lems "ithin the communit!% @ot (ecause o# the design' (ut
(ecause the victims do not tend to use them% /an +avis (1977) in his &e! te0t 8shelter a#ter
+isaster8 states this reaction as Bcultural unaccepta(ilit! 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 possi(le' the use o# a ma&e shi#t shelter is still pre#erred over tents%
Another pro(lem 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 pro(lem 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 settlement0s
he la!out o# shelter in a re#ugee camp can either provide suita(le protection or
e0acer(ate the li&elihood o# unsa#e conditions%
(:orsellis and Iitale' 2004' citing Anderson 199-)
19 ,# -2
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 8settlement is a collection o# shelters "hich are (uilt
rationall! to #orm a communit! (E) ogether "ith the shelter8s the! provide a health! and
secure place to live% he! also provide e0tra amounts o# privac!%8
(E) most camps at the time "ere designed in a grid' "ith multiple #amilies housed
in militar! st!le (arrac&s% (E) camps (uilt (! the $) militar! e0perienced a continual
surge o# re#ugees' ma&ing an! attempt at planning a #arce%
(Architecture #or Humanit!' 2009)
$n#ortunatel! (! (uilding in a 8militar! st!le (arrac&s8 then the privac! that these settlements
should provide' is not given% he "ord militar!' gives it a regimented #eel' tents lined up in
ro"s' ma0imising the use o# space' "ith little concern #or the occupants privac! and there#ore
not providing "hat a settlement should%
As "ell as this' the constant in#lu0 o# people "ithin the camp "ould detract #rom the
communit! #eeling% he population "ould constantl! (e in #lu0' "ith no one sta!ing
8permanentl!8 ("hile the camp e0ists' not in a permanent shelter)% his constant change o#
population and change in inha(itants "ould ma&e the camp more o# a commune than a
communit!% he inha(itants "ould not #eel part o# an!thing' and have no #eeling o# o"nership'
the camps in#rastructure su##ers (ecause o# this' creating a di##icult place to manage and plan%
(Architecture #or Humanit!' 2009)
hese settlements' along "ith the shelters' should provide a health! and sa#e environment #or
its inha(itants' (ut the! do not%
(E) camps initiated mass inoculations to cur( the out(rea& o# disease LandM securit!
issues plagued other camps%
(Architecture #or Humanit!' 2009)
his sho"s that the (arrac&s st!le settlements do not even provide the (asic health and sa#et!
re>uirements o# a settlementF in realit! the! o##er the opposite' some"here plagued (!
securit! issues and disease out(rea&s%
17 ,# -2
!.$ 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
pro(lems "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 e0treme
situations' there ma! not (e su##icient "ater availa(le 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 pro(lems
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 accessi(le
to the population o# camps% :orsellis and Iitale (2004) state Bthe 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 out(rea& o# disease is the
h!gienic disposal o# human "aste%
(Architecture #or Humanit!' 2009)
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
18 ,# -2
disposal o# #ood "aste' "aste "ater and disease vectors (:halinder' 199-)% /# this isn8t dealt
"ith correctl! then it is an o(vious 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! pro(lem 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 advisa(le 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 pro(lem 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
la(our each and ever! time a ne" hole needs to (e provided% /n large settlements' "ith a high
population densit!' this can >uic&l! (ecome impractica(le% 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 inha(itants o# the settlement' #rom the (reeding o# disease' to the ris&
o# #looding% he )phere 1ro.ect hand(oo& (200-) descri(e sur#ace "ater as one o# the threats
that needs to (e addressed' the pro(lems that not dealing "ith it can cause are given in the
te0t%
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
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 suita(le%
/# the de#inition #or shelter "hich "as derived at the start is ta&en' then it is o(vious 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 considera(l! 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
pro(lems%
/n his 1979 &e! te0t 8)helter a#ter disaster8 /an +avis states that there is three strategies #or
creating shelter% he! are Bhousing survivalC "here the (uildings are designed to "ithstand a
disaster' this is the most #avoura(le (ut rarel! possi(le in poor areas% he second is B#illing the
gapC "hich is the implementation o# temporar! shelter' ho"ever this is disli&ed (! the people
(eing displaced% he #inal is Baccelerated reconstructionC this is "here the (uilding o#
permanent structures (egins as soon as possi(le' "ith the shortest (uild time' this method is
the second (est #or dealing "ith disaster% A megastructure "ould #all in (et"een Baccelerated
reconstructionC and B#illing the gapC its modular units could (e used as initial temporar!
shelter then e0panded 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 9 categories' "here megastructures #all into the categor! o# 81lanned :amps8%
20 ,# -2
1lanned camps are places "here displaced populations #ind accommodation on
purpose=(uilt sites' and a #ull services in#rastructure is provided' including "ater
suppl!' #ood distri(ution' non=#ood item distri(ution' education' and health care'
usuall! e0clusivel! #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
adapta(le to the disaster8s 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=#a(ricated (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 sta(le and large structure "as (eing
underta&en' once completed the modules could 8plug=in8 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# colla(oration (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# 8accelerated reconstruction8 can (egin sooner%
21 ,# -2
Figure ): The network*structure
A recent A+ (2009) 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%
(E) ha(itation spheres' manu#actured li&e ships #rom vast modular su( assem(lies%
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+' 2009)
his idea a(out ha(itation spheres is at the e0treme o# megastructure production' "ith the
"hole structure (eing pre=#a(ricated 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' "here
onl! the (asic modular units are produced and shipped' "ith the structure (eing manu#actured
closer to the disaster' then the megastructure is a possi(le solution #or dealing "ith a disaster
through the method o# B#illing the gapC and then continue into Baccelerated reconstructionC%
22 ,# -2
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 pro(lems' and might con#lict
"ith several o# the guides%
/n 8transitional settlement displaced populations8 (:orsellis N Iitale' 2004)' "hen planning a
camp' an important aspect is 8livelihood8 and an! camp should there#ore (e a(le 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 Bhe 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 hand(oo& BAid "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!' 2009' citing
)phere)% his is a large pro(lem #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 inevita(l! lead to a shelter "here the standard o# living could (e e0ceptionall! higher
23 ,# -2
then that o# the local population% @o matter ho" simpli#ied the megastructure could (ecome'
it "ould still provide (etter accommodation then that availa(le locall! "ithin poor disaster
regions%
Another part o# the guide is dedicated to la(our' and it is recommended that local la(our
"ould (e used' as this has the advantage o# involving the displaced population "ith the
construction' letting them gain #amiliarit! "ith their shelters and possi(l! 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 possi(le% /nstead' the la(our "ould need to (e
contracted in' and the victims "ould not (e involved% his generates man! pro(lems' most
predominantl! it "ould hinder the econom! o# a disaster Gone (! not using local la(our' it
"ould also alienate the victims #rom their shelters' "hich is a similar pro(lem to that o# tents
(+avis' 1977)%
he megastructure "ould also su##er #rom pro(lems "ith cost' much li&e the current use o#
tents% Ho"ever' the megastructure is o(viousl! a much larger structure then a single tent' and
uses much more technologicall! advanced materials and s!stems so this pro(lem "ould (e
e0tremel! escalated% his pro(lem "ith cost is one o# the (iggest o(stacles 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=#a(ricated then transported to the site' the siGe
o# such modules ma&es it impossi(le to transport several at one time meaning that a
settlement "ould ta&e considera(l! longer to (ecome esta(lished' and this is not possi(le in
such an emergenc!%
As "ell' these modules onl! consist o# the 8living units8 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 tu(es 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 #easi(le in such crises%
2- ,# -2
/# !ou revie" the description o# a megastructure' !ou "ill notice "ords such as 8over=scaled8'
8(rute8 and 8colossal8 (ut "hen !ou thin& o# a disaster shelter the the "ords 8small=scale8'
8s!mpathetic8' 8temporar!8 and 8speed8 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 a
shelter a#ter disaster% /n an environment "here disaster victims are un"illing to accept even
the smallest o# shelters that are not recognisa(le to them (+avis' 1977)' then such a large
structure "ould indeed (e e0tremel! alien%
When it is criticall! anal!sed' then the megastructure is not #easi(le 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 suita(le to protect disaster victims' (eing o#
such a large=scale it "ouldn8t provide shelter in a time=scale "hich is accepta(le directl! a#ter a
disaster% he cost o# such a structure is too e0treme' and could not (e a##orded (! agencies
"ho "ant to provide shelter #or such a vulnera(le 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# considera(l! (etter >ualit! then that
usuall! availa(le 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' 1eter
:oo& (1993) discusses this several times in a pu(lication a(out 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
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=#a(rication 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% 7ore
realisticall! the process could (e use to provide the victims o# a disaster "ith simple pre=
#a(ricated "alls or #oundations onto "hich the! could (uild a shelter suita(le #or their needs'
this "ould also create that sense o# communit!' "ith people helping each other and local
la(our (eing used to create such shelters% his practice is alread! (eing loo&ed at and is
e0amined in Architecture #or Humanit!8s (2009) &e! te0t on the su(.ect%
Because roo#s and #oundations tend to (e the most di##icult and e0pensive
components o# a house' man! @H,8s have adopted a strateg! o# (uilding Bcore
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
pu(lications "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! it8s current
re=design% he 8*ight"eight Emergenc! ent8 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)
29 ,# -2
his 8*ight"eight Emergenc! ent8 aims to overcome the
pro(lems "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 or
degradation% 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%
:um(ersome 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 2reug )a(e' /ndonesia% he
tent pac&s in a carr!ing case and can easil! (e erected%
(Architecture #or Humanit!' 2009)
he! aid "ith camp planning through the overhaul in design%
he tu(e 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! (E%) the designers created a #a(ric partition to divide
the tent' creating a semiprivate space "here "omen can
change and parents can sleep a"a! #rom children%
(Architecture #or Humanit!' 2009)
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
settlement
he ne0t pro.ect to (e anal!sed is more radical then the tent re=design and is called 8)uper
Ado(e8% /t "as constructed #or /ra>i re#ugees and consists o# large dome shelters constructed o#
sand(ags' earth and (ar(ed "ire% Ado(e is an old (uilding techni>ueF super ado(e (uilds upon
this techni>ue' ta&ing it #urther (! #using modern technolog! "ith tested techni>ues' to create
>uic& and sta(le temporar! shelters%
)uperado(e is an ado(e that is stretched #rom histor! into the ne" centur!% /t is li&e
an um(ilical cord connecting the traditional "ith the #uture ado(e "orld%
(httpJOOcalearth%orgO(uilding=designsO"hat=is=superado(e%html' citing @ader 2halili)
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 descri(ed as BLtoM $tiliGe minimum amounts o# purchased product and
ma0imum amounts o# the #ree earth under !our #eet%C (! the creators calearth%
(httpJOOcalearth%orgO(uilding=designsOemergenc!=sand(ag=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 ado(e can (e (uilt an!"here'
(! an!one%
28 ,# -2
he (asic philosoph! "as that it "as lo" cost% 1eople could do it themselves% Women
can (uild it 6 that8s ver! important
(Architecture #or Humanit!' 2009' citing @ader 2halili)
he shelter has also (een tested to "ithstand (oth hurricanes and earth>ua&es' creating an
e0tremel! sa#e and sta(le shelter%
he super ado(e 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 8alien8 negativit! to"ards tents isn8t 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 ena(le the construction o# shelter to
>uic&l! (egin a#ter a disaster%
he ne0t t!pe o# design is called 8core housing8 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 availa(le%
he structure is a core s!stem mad o# t"o #ree=standing (o0esJ ,ne encloses an
toilet' the other a hearth' internal cistern and sho"er% Beams connect the t"o (o0es'
creating enough space #or a (ed%
(Architecture #or Humanit!' 2009)
29 ,# -2
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 shelter8s and surrounding communit!%
Also' (! involving people "ithin the construction' training can (e given' teaching people
valua(le s&ills' it also Bstrengthens the lin& (et"een reconstruction and .o( creationC providing
an area "ith a (oost to a struggling econom!% (Architecture #or Humanit!' 2009)%
he core shelter also provides an opportunit! #or e0pansion' allo"ing #amil!s to e0tend the
shelters i# the! need to later on% his #le0i(ilit! o# space provides a shelter "hich is suita(le to
several Gones throughout the "orld and can easil! (e adapted #or several climates%
he height o# the core shelter allo"ed #amilies to e0tend 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%
($@=Ha(itat' 2010)
When compared to tents' these core houses are considera(l! more e0pensive' (ut the! do
provide a permanent shelter #or people unli&e a temporar! tent% he core8s also have the
capa(ilit! to provide services such as plum(ing and electricit!' reducing the need to plan this
"ithin the settlement% Also' much li&e the 8super ado(e8 (! 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
he core housing also shares some principles "ith megastructures in its use o# pre=#a(rication%
he pre=#a(ricated 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 shelters
creating the core' (ut in principle (oth share similar design philosophies%
he ne0t pro.ect' is one named 8ransitional :ommunit!8 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
e0isting communit!% (Architecture #or Humanit!' 2009)
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' ,0#am ensured that the victims
themselves "here involved in design' this "as &e! to this pro.ect% As a result the shelter8s
design Bmet government approval and displaced #amilies needs%C (Architecture #or Humanit!'
2009)
he displaced #amilies also "anted to sta! "ithin the communit!' close to amenities such as
education and healthcare% o ensure this' ,0#am (uilt transitional shelters until land #or
permanent ones (ecame availa(le%
he shelters "ere designed so that the! could (e dismantled a#ter a !ear% im(er
.oints "ere (olted' and the #loor "as made #rom cement tiles rather then a solid
sla(%
(Architecture #or Humanit!' 2009)
o aid reconstruction' ,0#am also provided permanent structures' "hich "ould (ene#it the
"hole communit!' not .ust the temporar! shelters% his is an e0ample 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
!.1 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# 8shelter8 and
8settlement8 descri(ed at the outset% hese &e! considerations "ill then (e used to descri(e
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 pro(a(l! 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% 1rovide pre=#a(ricated 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=#a(ricated cores #orm the (asis o# a larger settlement%
3% $se local materials 6 $sing core shelter' allo"s #or local techni>ues and materials to (e
used #or "all' roo# and #loor construction% his reduces the need #or shipping to onl!
the minimal parts% B! using local materials' the victims "ill (e a(le to complete their
shelter to a standard the! "ish' and ensures there is no negativit! to"ards an 8alien8
shelter%
-% 1rovide #or the communit! 6 7uch li&e the hierarch! emplo!ed in megastructure
design' it can (e use#ul to provide permanent amenities "hich "ill outlast the
transitional shelter% his provision gives a (asis #or the settlement to gro" into a
communit!%
32 ,# -2
hese considerations seem simple' (ut the! (een derived #rom the anal!sis o# ne" shelter
design' settlement consideration and shelter case studies% he use o# core shelter and local
materials "ill no" (e anal!sed against di##erent climatic Gones to see ho" the! could (e
adapted to provide "hat is necessar! in each climate% he provision #or the communit! "ill
di##er #rom site to site and settlement to settlement' so cannot easil! (e anal!sed' ho"ever a
general overvie" o# ho" this consideration could (e used "ill (e included at the end%
he #irst climatic Gone to (e anal!sed "ill (e a ropical climate% A tropical climate "ill su##er
mostl! #rom H!drological disasters such as #loods' c!clones etc% (:5E+' 2009)%
Dor the purpose o# this anal!sis' the displaced population "ill (e due to a #lood and c!clone'
such as :!clone )idr "hich occurred in Bangladesh in 2007% ($@=Ha(itat' 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 plum(ing as the availa(ilit! 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! plum(ing "ould also (e shipped% he plinth can (e constructed on site using ado(e
or rammed earth "hich is readil! availa(le% he "alls "ould also (e constructed (! the #amil!
itsel#' t!pical "all construction could consist o# de(ris #rom destro!ed shelter or the use o#
"oven (am(oo% ($@=Ha(itat' 2010)
he second anal!sis "ill still (e in a ropical climate' (ut "ill loo& at sites e##ected (!
earth>ua&es' an e0ample 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 it8s sta(ilit!% he pre=#a(rication o# structural elements
"hich provide this sta(ilit!' and "hich "alls and roo#s can (e attached' should (e considered
33 ,# -2
the (asis o# this core shelter% he onl! necessar! parts o# this structure to (e pre=#a(ricated and
shipped "ould (e the structureF an e0ample 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# the
shelters "ould need to (ecome involved "ith this procedure% An e0ample o# this is the shelter
provided in Haiti (! Handicap international ()acca' 2010)
he lateral L"allM panels are installed according to the BclissadeC techni>ue
(intert"ined slats)% raditionall! used in Haiti' this techni>ue presents eas! repairs
and #itting possi(ilities%
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 a(ilit! to repair
and re=construct shelters (ecause local techni>ues are used%
he third anal!sis "ill loo& at a emperate climate' an e0ample o# this "ill (e ta&en as @e"
,rleans' *ouisiana% A cit! devastated (! hurricane 2atrina in 2004%
When developing shelter #or a cit!' the needs are completel! di##erent to that o# a rural area%
7ost 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 (o0es' one containing a toilet' the other a sho"er% (Architecture #or Humanit!' 2009)
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 e0isting structure% he cores have this
adapta(ilit! to create a shelter #rom ruins' giving amenities to an other"ise derelict structure%
A pro.ect called 8e0treme housing8 used this principle%
he structure is a core s!stem made o# t"o #ree standing (o0es (E) his easil!
assem(led transitional structure can eventuall! (ecome the core o# a permanent
structure or plug into a semi=destro!ed home%
(Architecture #or Humanit!' 2009)
3- ,# -2
Figure 11: Core housing; showing the two free*stan"ing ,o2es
his >uote descri(es 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 ru((le or the cores themselves could (e placed alongside a destro!ed
"all%
1rovision #or the communit! is the last recommendation given' it is derived #rom the ,0#am
8ransitional :ommunities8 programme as "ell as the megastructures philosophies on
hierarch!% he considerations aim is to provide a permanent #i0ture 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 #i0ture is the 8core8 o# the shelters provided' these cores are re=
usa(le in permanent structures' or the transitional shelters e0panded and improved to provide
permanent shelter% he consideration does not end there though' much li&e the latrines
provided in the 8ransitional :ommunities8 pro.ect' a permanent #i0ture 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 adapta(ilit! o# core shelters ma&es them usa(le throughout the "orld% hese
34 ,# -2
#e" 8case studies8 sho" ho" a core shelter can (e adapted to the needs o# di##erent disasters
and climatic Gones% he! have the a(ilit! 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!%
39 ,# -2
$.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=#easa(le 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 8shelter8 and 8settlement8 "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 charita(le 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 pro(lems "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 charita(le organisations sho"ed that the
megastructure "ould indeed provide "hat is needed a#ter a disaster' such as 8shelter8 and a
8settlement8 % Ho"ever' "hen the siGe and scale o# a megastructure (egan to (e considered' it
"as o(vious that such a large=scale piece o# architecture "ould (e to costl! and cum(ersome
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=#a(rication and modulation o# shelter' as "ell as the
hierarch! o# construction and in#rastructure%
he section a(out 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 e0amples 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
37 ,# -2
population in the construction o# the shelters' helps stop the 8alien8 nature o# shelter% he
section also sho"ed a similarit! (et"een ne" shelters and the principles o# the megastructure'
the use o# pre=#a(ricated 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 colla(oration (et"een megastructure principles and ne" shelter design can (e
used to create a (etter 8shelter8 and 8settlement8% he largest conclusion dra"n #rom this
chapter is that transitional core shelter8s should no" (e used% his t!pe o# shelter is e0tremel!
adapta(le and can (e pre=#a(ricated and modulated to per#orm several di##erent tas&s "ithin
several di##erent climates% he use o# the core allo"s #or e0panda(ilit! into permanent housing'
and helps create a sta(le communit!%
he overall stud! has sho"n that megastructures are un=#easa(le 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=#a(rication 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%
38 ,# -2
(e)erences
A+ (2009)% anma"e o"ular egastructures% West )usse0J Wile!=Academ!%
Architecture #or Humanit! (2009)% 3esign 4ike 5ou 6i(e a 3amn: Architectural 'es-onses to
&umanitarian Crises% *ondonJ hames and Hudson *td%
Banham' 5 (1979)% egastructure: ur,an future of the recent -ast% *ondonJ hames and
Hudson *td%
:al=Earth% (n%d%)% Emergency San",ag Shelter7 Availa(leJ httpJOOcalearth%orgO(uilding=
designsOemergenc!=sand(ag=shelter%html% *ast accessed 31st 7arch 2011%
:al=Earth% (n%d%)% 8hat is Su-era"o,e97 Availa(leJ httpJOOcalearth%orgO(uilding=designsO"hat=is=
superado(e%html% *ast accessed 31st 7arch 2011%
:halinder' A (199-)% 6oo" Practice 'e(iew 1: 8ater an" Sanitation in Emergencies7 *ondonJ
5elie# and 5eha(ilitation @et"or&%
:oo&' 1 (1972)% Archigram% *ondonJ )tudio Iista 1u(lishers%
:orsellis' and Iitalle' A (2004)% Transitional Settlements: 3is-lace" Po-ulations% ,0#ordJ
,0#am HB%
:5E+ (he :enter #or 5esearch on Epidemiolog! o# +isasters) (2010)% Annual 3isaster Statistical
'e(iew 2110: The num,ers an" tren"s7 BelgiumJ :5E+%
:5E+ (2011)% 2111: "isasters in num,ers% Heneva' 2- Aanuar! 2011% HenevaJ :5E+%
+avis' / (1978)% Shelter After 3isaster% ,0#ordJ ,0#ord 1ol!technic 1ress%
)acca' + (2010)% Transitional Shelter7 n%dJ Handicap /nternational%
)helter :entre (2010)% Annual 'e-ort 2110 : 21117 HenevaJ )helter :entre%
)phere 1ro.ect (200-) &umanitarian Charter an" inimum Stan"ar"s in
3isaster 'es-onse7 HenevaJ )phere 1ro.ect%
39 ,# -2
$@H:5 (2000) &an",ook for Emergencies7 Heneva' $@H:5%
$@H:5 (2004)% S-ecification of 4ight 8eight Emergency Tent7 HenevaJ $@H:5
$nited @ations (200-)% Tents: A gui"e to the use an" logistics of family tents in humanitarian
relief7 HenevaJ ,##ice Dor he :oordination o# Humanitarian A##airs (,:HAOE)BO200-O19)%
$nited @ations (2009)% Shelter Pro;ects 21107 @airo(iJ $@=Ha(itat%
-0 ,# -2
+ibliogra,h"
,liver' 1 (2009)% <uilt to eet %ee"s: Cultural =ssues in >ernacular Architecture% ,0#ordJ
Architectural 1ress%
)helter :entre (2010)% Shelter after "isaster: strategies for transitional shelter an"
reconstruction7 HenevaJ )helter :entre%
)helter :entre% (n%d%)% Shelter 4i,rary7 Availa(leJ httpJOOsheltercentre%orgOli(rar!% *ast accessed
31st 7arch 2011%
$nited @ations (2008)% Shelter Pro;ects 211/7 @airo(iJ $@=Ha(itat%
$@H:5 :anada (2010)% ?uick Facts: Shelter an" &uman 'ights7 :anadaJ $@H:5 :anada
-1 ,# -2
-igure List
Digure /J :oo&' 1 (1972)% Archigram% *ondonJ )tudio Iista 1u(lishers% 1age -0%
Digure 1J :oo&' 1 (1972)% Archigram% *ondonJ )tudio Iista 1u(lishers% 1age -0%
Digure 2J Banham' 5 (1979)% 7ega structure: ur,an future of the recent -ast% *ondonJ hames
and Hudson *td% 1age 18%
Digure 3J A+ (2009)% anma"e o"ular egastructures% West )usse0J Wile!=Academ!% 1age
34%
Digure -JArchitecture #or Humanit! (2009)% 3esign 4ike 5ou 6i(e a 3amn: Architectural
'es-onses to &umanitarian Crises% *ondonJ hames and Hudson *td% 1age 48%
Digure 4J :oo&' 1 (1972)% Archigram% *ondonJ )tudio Iista 1u(lishers% 1age -0%
Digure 9J A+ (2009)% anma"e o"ular egastructures% West )usse0J Wile!=Academ!% 1age
-4%
Digure 7JArchitecture #or Humanit! (2009)% 3esign 4ike 5ou 6i(e a 3amn: Architectural
'es-onses to &umanitarian Crises% *ondonJ hames and Hudson *td% 1age 93%
Digure 8JArchitecture #or Humanit! (2009)% 3esign 4ike 5ou 6i(e a 3amn: Architectural
'es-onses to &umanitarian Crises% *ondonJ hames and Hudson *td% 1age 111%
Digure 9JArchitecture #or Humanit! (2009)% 3esign 4ike 5ou 6i(e a 3amn: Architectural
'es-onses to &umanitarian Crises% *ondonJ hames and Hudson *td% 1age 122=23%
Digure 10J Architecture #or Humanit! (2009)% 3esign 4ike 5ou 6i(e a 3amn: Architectural
'es-onses to &umanitarian Crises% *ondonJ hames and Hudson *td% 1age 121%
-2 ,# -2