Post-disaster temporary housing alternatives for enhanced structural, constructional, and architectural performances

Abstract

Hundreds of devastating earthquakes occur in the world every year, and as a result, temporary shelters are needed to assist people in their post-disaster lives. By research done on existing temporary post-earthquake houses around the world, it has been determined that there are deficiencies in terms of structural, architectural, and constructional features in these houses. This study aims to develop an alternative type of post-disaster residential units depending on occupants' different dwelling needs by evaluating existing post-disaster houses' physical, architectural, structural, and constructional criteria. While there are several solutions such as fast-assembly and post-disaster shelters, the missing piece is an omni-efficient design that can adapt to occupant demands from both physical and psychological perspectives and can be turned into a permanent habitation as time passes. This study is dedicated to filling in this gap. After studying the most catastrophic earthquakes that have occurred throughout the world, the first chapter estimates that more than one thousand post-disaster housings will be required in Iran and Turkey in future, based on earthquake scenarios that may occur. The temporary earthquake houses that need to be built should be examined in suitable solution models, including safety, energy efficiency, and offering an optimal level of living comfort, among other factors. In the second chapter, the most destructive earthquakes with a magnitude of Mw=5.0 or higher, which occurred in Iran and Turkey between 1999 and 2012, are discussed. This chapter discusses and explains the most prevalent kind of post-disaster housing offered by the government to the homeless in Iran (tent) and its long-term issues for the residents. The third chapter provides a detailed description of the various forms of post-disaster housing (emergency shelter, temporary shelter, temporary housing, and permanent housing). However, the focus of this research is on the design and construction of temporary housing that can be turned into permanent dwellings for people over time. The fourth chapter explains the challenges that prefabricated houses may have in usage and some examples of post-disaster prefabricated dwellings. The study of these houses is based on structural and physical features, different types of layouts, various localities, and the countries in which they were built. The primary goal of inspecting these houses is to investigate and evaluate structural, user expectations, physical, and constructional criteria for the case studies to determine the best structure, construction, foundation, and plan shape by studying and comparing samples. In the fifth chapter, the calculation of the minimum area of the living room and bedroom and each portion's micro-spaces and surface area are discussed according to the Iranian building code. Three designs are offered, each suited for 2, 4, and 6 people, with structural and constructional details sketched and developed for each type. Temporary earthquake housing enhances people's comfort and social psychology by providing secure and readily available dwellings while also contributing directly to the country's economy. Chapter six is devoted to the conclusion obtained from this work. Also, some recommendation for potential future work are given. Proposed houses should provide a safe, secure, and comfortable interior atmosphere that gives the inhabitants a sense of home. So, individuals can continue their daily activities like going to work or attending school. Furthermore, as life gets back to normal, and these houses are no longer needed in the region, they can be easily disassembled and transferred to some other place and assembled again without causing any structural and physical damage to their components.