Sheltering options after a natural disaster vary depending on a number of things which include the location of the disaster, the economy of the impacted area, and the preparedness of that country. After extensive research, two examples have stood out: tents, hexayurt, the Core House, and the Uber Shelter used after Haiti’s earthquake and Karen Chapple’s cottage and the FEMA trailer used after Hurricane Katrina.
Haiti Relief Tents
On January 12, 2010, a magnitude 7.0earthquake hit Haiti. In the 35 seconds of shaking, 1.3 million people instantly became homeless. Even though United States’ economy is dreadful, Haiti’s economy is that of a 3rd world country. Therefore, the majority of the 1.3 million displaced individuals are not able to afford adequate sheltering. Due to this, tents have become the most popular shelter and housing option. However, a flimsy tent in the tropical weather of Haiti can easily become dry rotted in the summer months. In addition, the weather prone area increases the chance these tents will be damaged or destroyed by high winds. The $400 tents face another problem, flooding due to the area’s high level of precipitation. In addition, in a press release, Vincent Houver, IOM’s (International Organization for Migration) Chief of Mission of Haiti, stated that these “tents are a three to five month option in the midst of the dry season (Wired Covers,2010, para. 3) 
Image 1 - Tents located in Haiti
The Hexayurt
In Haiti, if a low cost wood structure was employed, the majority of the problems the tents caused would be solved, such as durability, wind and rain resistance, and cost effectiveness. One such shelter, the Hexayurt, consists of a 166 square foot structure that can be built for only $100. Its designer, Vinay Gupta, designed the structure to be used in locations such as the Hurricane Belt and flood-prone areas. These structures, built from standard 4’ x 8’ sheets of plywood, utilize zero waste and costs 66-75% less than that of an average relief tent.
To make a Hexayurt, put six sheets of your chosen building material onto their sides, forming a hexagon. Then six diagonally cut sheets of plywood come together to structure the roof. To create a water resistant interior space, overlap the sheets when assembling them to creating a cone shape. Next, securely fasten the cone shape to the hexagon walls. Finally, caulk and waterproof the structure to provide as much durability as possible. By doing this, the structure has been estimated, to withstand normal weather conditions for as long as two years (Heckert, 2007).
To make a Hexayurt, put six sheets of your chosen building material onto their sides, forming a hexagon. Then six diagonally cut sheets of plywood come together to structure the roof. To create a water resistant interior space, overlap the sheets when assembling them to creating a cone shape. Next, securely fasten the cone shape to the hexagon walls. Finally, caulk and waterproof the structure to provide as much durability as possible. By doing this, the structure has been estimated, to withstand normal weather conditions for as long as two years (Heckert, 2007).
Image 2 - The Hexayurt
The Core House
Architect Andres Duany, one of the developers of the Katrina Cottage, has developed a cost-effective durable shelter called the Core House. His shelter, which is designed to withstand earthquakes and hurricanes, will be used to house the displaced individuals of Haiti. The Core House, which can sleep eight individuals, uses Innovida’s fiber composite panel system to create strong durable mold-proof wall system. Duany’s 160 square foot shelter, on an average, costs of $6,000. It also provides a sleeping area, a shaded covered area, and a space for outdoor cooking. When comparing his shelter to that of a FEMA trailer, Duany states “[the FEMA trailers], which are for lower middle class people, is like a mansion in Haiti. Our houses [only] need to get [the displaced individuals] out of the rain” (Viglucci, 2010, para. 16).
Due to the fact that no two cultures are the exact same, a United States application of the Core House would present the inhabitants with a number of problems. These problems could include: the lack of privacy, the lack of a toilet, not incorporating a way to collect and store water and a source of electricity, and a lack of useable square footage. In addition, two problems in any location could arise. The first problem is its large opening. This opening, used for ventilation and creating a shaded area, can act as a sail in a strong storm or hurricane which will knock the shelter off its cinder blocks. The second problem is the cinder blocks the shelter sits on. Having a shelter that sleeps up to eight people, there is a need for a better way to anchor and raise the shelter off the ground (Viglucci, 2010).
Due to the fact that no two cultures are the exact same, a United States application of the Core House would present the inhabitants with a number of problems. These problems could include: the lack of privacy, the lack of a toilet, not incorporating a way to collect and store water and a source of electricity, and a lack of useable square footage. In addition, two problems in any location could arise. The first problem is its large opening. This opening, used for ventilation and creating a shaded area, can act as a sail in a strong storm or hurricane which will knock the shelter off its cinder blocks. The second problem is the cinder blocks the shelter sits on. Having a shelter that sleeps up to eight people, there is a need for a better way to anchor and raise the shelter off the ground (Viglucci, 2010).
Image 3 - Duany's Core House
The Uber Shelter
Designer Rafael Smith and his Uber Shelter presents a successful solution to this growing problem of providing post-disaster temporary shelters. He designed his shelter to respond to natural disasters in poorer countries, such as Haiti, after the earthquake. Due to Haiti’s poor economy, Smith’s shelter is designed in three stages: emergency, transitional, and permanent. In the emergency stage, the frame of the structure would be provided to get the people off the ground and out of the elements. In addition, this stage consists of a 190 square foot platform for $200. In the transitional stage, the walls, doors, and windows would be added to the frame. This stage would remain the original 190 square feet but cost an additional $1,300. In the permanent stage, the shelter would be expandable to a larger size. In this stage, the shelter would grow to 250 square feet and cost an additional $1,000.
For easy compact transportation, the shelter would arrive as a kit-of-parts with the dimensions of 2’ x 4’ x 8’. Therefore, forty shelters would be able to fit into a standard shipping container. To make Smith’s shelter easily transportable, each kit can be separated into four separate sections, each weighing 300 pounds. Once in its desired location, the shelter can be erected in five hours with the help of four people. In addition, only two wrenches are needed to erect the shelter. With its many positives, a shelter designed for Haiti would have many complications when brought to the United States. The complications would be with missing amenities that would be needed in New Orleans. These missing amenities would include: an indoor toilet, running water, an electricity hook up, heating and cooling, as well as square footage minimums to provide a sense of comfort, privacy, and well-being (Smith, 2010).
For easy compact transportation, the shelter would arrive as a kit-of-parts with the dimensions of 2’ x 4’ x 8’. Therefore, forty shelters would be able to fit into a standard shipping container. To make Smith’s shelter easily transportable, each kit can be separated into four separate sections, each weighing 300 pounds. Once in its desired location, the shelter can be erected in five hours with the help of four people. In addition, only two wrenches are needed to erect the shelter. With its many positives, a shelter designed for Haiti would have many complications when brought to the United States. The complications would be with missing amenities that would be needed in New Orleans. These missing amenities would include: an indoor toilet, running water, an electricity hook up, heating and cooling, as well as square footage minimums to provide a sense of comfort, privacy, and well-being (Smith, 2010).
Image 4 - Rafael Smith's Uber Shelter
The next blog will be about the research I found on the largest source of information that I used when designing the proposed shelter design, the FEMA trailer.
Text
Heckert, P. (2007, May 15). Why a Tornado or Hurricane Can Lift the Roof off a House.
Retrieved January 3, 2011, from http://www.suite101.com/content/bernoullis-principle-and-storms-a21290.
Smith, R. (2010, June). Rafael - The Uber Shelter Project. Retrieved September 17, 2010, from
http://vimeo.com/12478705.
Wired Covers the Hexayurt. (2010, February 11). Dangerous Minds. Retrieved November 10,
2010, from http://www.dangerousminds.net/comments/wired_covers_the_hexayurt.
Images
1- http://babyboomeradvisorclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/haiti%20tents.jpg
2- http://www.kk.org/cooltools/hexayurt2sm.jpg
3- http://www.instablogsimages.com/images/2010/01/29/core-house2_MnKrS_24429.jpg
4- http://whatgives365.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/p4.jpg
Viglucci, A. (2010, January 29). Miami Architect Devises Prefabs for Haiti’s Homeless. The
Palm Beach Post. Retrieved February 9, 2011, from http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/world/miami-architect-devises-prefabs-for-haitis-homeless-201663.html?sort=desc
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