Alter to recover : Adaptability of emergency shelters post-disaster
Vinot, Bertille Lucile (2025)
2025
Arkkitehdin tutkinto-ohjelma - Master's Programme in Architecture
Rakennetun ympäristön tiedekunta - Faculty of Built Environment
Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2025-05-21
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202505074982
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202505074982
Tiivistelmä
Due to climate change, natural disasters are increasing in number and worsening in intensity. When the built environment is damaged, people may need to find other accommodations while healing and reconstructing their homes. Some of these temporary accommodations include detached units brought by NGO’s. Due to technical, physical or political factors, the dwellers tend to stay longer than expected in the unit. However, the shelters mostly are rudimentary and do not meet dignified living conditions on the long-term.
This thesis studies the adaptability of emergency housing and sheltering solutions through a literature review. Out of the conclusions drawn from the literature review and helped by an interview with an architect that work with emergency housing in humanitarian context, the thesis proposes guidelines for safe, dignified transformations. The results are presented in three sections focusing on climate, culture and social infrastructure, and water utilities. These sections allow for topical focus on the structure or principle of the shelter. The results are illustrated with a hypothetical design based on existing units and experienced practices.
The study concludes with four principles to apply to emergency housing units: the shelter should be considered as a mean not an end, the shelter should be transformable in its shape and size, the performance of the shelter’s unit should improve with time and the sheltering process should promotes people’s involvement.
This thesis studies the adaptability of emergency housing and sheltering solutions through a literature review. Out of the conclusions drawn from the literature review and helped by an interview with an architect that work with emergency housing in humanitarian context, the thesis proposes guidelines for safe, dignified transformations. The results are presented in three sections focusing on climate, culture and social infrastructure, and water utilities. These sections allow for topical focus on the structure or principle of the shelter. The results are illustrated with a hypothetical design based on existing units and experienced practices.
The study concludes with four principles to apply to emergency housing units: the shelter should be considered as a mean not an end, the shelter should be transformable in its shape and size, the performance of the shelter’s unit should improve with time and the sheltering process should promotes people’s involvement.