Brad Pitt's Make It Right Foundation Revitalizes a Revenged Community

In August of 2005, Hurricane Katrina, a massive hurricane, slammed into Louisiana’s coast.  Katrina’s strong winds and enormous storm surge caused 80 percent of New Orleans to lie under water.  In December 2006, to help house some of the displaced people of the Lower 9^th Ward, Brad Pitt gathered a group of experts to brainstorm how to build green affordable housing on a large scale.  The Cherokee Give Back Foundation, GRAFT, William McDonough and Partners, John C. Williams (architect), Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and Ellen DeGeneres came together to create the Make It Right Foundation.  This foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to helping former Lower 9^th Ward residence rebuild their lives and neighborhood.  The Make It Right Foundation’s mission is as follows:

To be a catalyst for redevelopment of the Lower 9^th Ward, by building a neighborhood of safe and healthy homes that are inspired by William McDonough’s Cradle to Cradle Design thinking, with an emphasis on high-quality design, while preserving the spirit of the community’s culture. 

            From the start, their primary goal was to provide 150 affordable, green, and storm-resistant homes.  After three years, the Make It Right Foundation has completed 50 homes, with 30 houses currently under construction.  They expect all of the 30 homes under construction to be completed in mid-to-late February, with every house meeting LEED Platinum status. 

Image 1 - Brad Pitt's Make It Right Foundation deploys pink tent structures to show where houses once were located.

The Make It Right Foundation, while providing affordable and sustainable housing, also aims to reconceive the role of landscape architecture in post-disaster rebuilding.  Due to the foundation no being a developer, they did not have the luxury of completing a comprehensive master plan; therefore, the designers had to look at the individual lots to see how far they could push the envelope of sustainability (socially and economically).  The first problem to tackle, since being located below sea level, is the Lower 9^th Ward’s storm water management.  Engineers discovered, for every rainfall event, on the eight block Make It Right housing community, 350,000 gallons of water were hitting the storm water and pumping systems. 

As of now, New Orleans spends millions of dollars to pump an average of 65 inches of rain per year over the levees.  To help solve this growing problem, the Make It Right Foundation’s goal is to create a series of streetscapes and green street within the neighborhood.  The Make It Right Foundation used a $2.7 million community development block grant to help pay for the sustainable upgrades.  A system to control small scale flooding is greatly important to the Lower 9^th Ward.  In fact, the foundation’s housing community is located only 100 meters from where the original barge broke through the levy.  In the end, each house’s sustainable elements can decrease the users utility bills from $150 - $200 to $28 - $38 a month. 

Image 2 - Volunteers, Make It Right workers, and individuals around the country come together to construct the homes.

              Due to the Make It Right Foundation’s success in the Lower 9^th Ward after Hurricane Katrina, they plan on expand to provide sustainable housing to other revenged communities in New Orleans, as well as other cities across the United States.  With rising sea levels, climate change, and the need to completely rethink the way we design housing, landscape, and infrastructure, a long-term strategic plan is needed throughout the country.  However, as of now, there is only a few cities in the United States that would greatly benefit from the Make It Right’s collaboration.  The first city on the list was Newark.  They provided 56 multi-family housing units, in which 25 were percent of its occupants are disabled veterans.  Some of the areas that could be on their list could include Greensberg, Kansas and Joplin, Missouri.  The Make It Right Foundation is a multidisciplinary team that can understand technical, social, and ecological ramifications; therefore, they are able to make more informed decisions.  In addition, they have come together to discover every opportunity where you can create thing where they were previously before.

Image 3 - A Lower 9th Ward residence comes back home to her new Make It Right home

 Image 4 - Another Make It Right home that was completed in the Lower 9th Ward

The latest design to be built by the Make It Right Foundation (in October 2009) was the Float House.  The home, designed by Morphosis Architects, turns into a giant raft in the event of massive flooding, resembling Noah’s Ark.  Once flooding occurs, the house moves up and down on guideposts.  However, if the floods exceed twelve feet, the home will surpass the posts and float away.  His action has caused many concerns regarding gas leaks and live electrical wires.  These elements are on a break-off system to eliminate these risks. In addition, once the house is disconnected from its utilities, it can run on battery power for up to three days. 

While all previous Make It Right homes are built up off the ground, to keep the owners safe from a flood.  On the other hand, the Float House sits only one meter off the ground.  By doing this, the new home style provides two main elements the previous homes lacked.  The first element is eliminating the long flight of stairs.  This is beneficial for the elderly and disabled persons.  The second element is helping to bring back the street level porches, which were an integral part of the Lower 9^th Ward community.  The concept of the Floating Houses, much like that of a seatbelt, you hope it never gets used, but when it does, you are sure glad you have one.

Text

Donsky, A. (2009, October 9). Brad Pitt's MakeIt Right Foundation Unveils Floating

      House. Retrieved October 24, 2011, form http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009

      10/brat-pitt-make-it-right-foundation-unveils-floating-house.php

A 7.2 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Turkey

Some experts and scientists say the increase in natural disasters is due to the increase in the average surface temperature.  An increase in the average surface temperature would create more tornadic thunderstorms, and an increase in the ocean’s temperature.  Therefore, there is a possible increase in the number of hurricanes per season, as well as an increase in their intensity.  In 2005, four hurricanes reached category 5 intensity (the strongest), which is only the fourth time in history that more than two category 5 hurricanes have formed in a single season (1960, 1961, 2005, 2007).  Once again, there has been an increase in a natural disaster.  However, this time it is earthquakes.  Since 2005, there have been ten earthquakes between magnitude 6.3 and 8.0. 

On October 23, 2011, the Kandilli Observatory experienced a 3.8 magnitude earthquake in eastern Turkey.  Sixteen minutes later, to add to the ten earthquakes since 2005, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake shook the same area.  A native of Istanbul, Turkey, Karamursel Koeali tried to describe the events to reporters, “it shook for 15 seconds and we were 200km away from the epicenter.  As I have experienced many quakes from my past, I knew it was too far [away] and a strong one.”  Since the 7.2 earthquake, 500 aftershocks have rattled the area.  The largest of the aftershocks measured a magnitude 5.4 on the Richter Scale.  Turkey lies on one of the world’s most active fault zones.  In 1999, two earthquakes, with a magnitude of 7 or higher, struck northwestern Turkey, killing 18,000 people.  Experts say that if a 7.0 magnitude earthquake were to strike Istanbul, which is Turkey’s largest city, the death toll would easily be in the tens of thousands.    

Image 1 - The tremendous earthquake caused unthinkable damage to hotels and apartment buildings

The massive 7.2 earthquake, architecturally, has changed the landscape of eastern Turkey.  Since the earthquake, onsite engineers have been performing rapid assessments of the area’s buildings.  Of the 16,448 buildings checked thus far, 2,208 were deemed uninhabitable and 3,373 were damaged but habitable.  In addition, 2,000 buildings either suffered catastrophic structural failure or were completely toppled.  The economic loss, on the building scale, could be as high as $260 million.  This figure assumes that the building’s loss contributes to 40 – 50 percent of the total loss (assumes severities of 45- 50k for uninhabitable buildings, and 10k for habitable but damages buildings). Due to a high number of damaged buildings and being afraid to reenter them, thousands of people have spent two nights, in either cars or tents, in near-freezing winter conditions. 

Image 2 - In the middle of a street, both cars and buildings become demolished unit

Like the buildings in the area, the residence of eastern Turkey has also been dramatically impacted.  Authorities have estimated the death toll to be 432; however, they estimate to greatly increasing the number once rescue missions are completed.  In addition to the death toll, 1,300 people have been injured.  The following is a story from an article about three kids’ struggle to be rescued. 

The boy, his sister and a cousin were trapped in the building’s third-floor stairway as they

tried to escape when the quake hit.  A steel door fell over him. 

“I fell on the ground face down. When I tried to move my head, it hit the door,” he said.  “I tried to get out and was able to open a gap with my fists in the wall but could not move my body further.  The wall crumbled quickly when I hit it.” 

“We started shouting: Help! We’re here,” he said.  “They found us a few hours later, they took me out about 8.5 hours later…. I was OK but felt very bad, lonely…. I still have a headache, but the doctor said I was fine.”

“They took me out last because I was in good shape and the door was protecting me.  I was hearing stones falling on it,” the boy described.   

Image 3 - Residence search through the rubble of what once was their homes

In the aftermath of the earthquake, hundreds of rescue teams, throughout Turkey, were rushed to the devastated areas, while the Turkish Red Crescent shipped tents, blankets, and goods.  The numbers show that the Turkish Red Crescent supplied the victims with the following: 83 vehicles (50 of which were ambulances), 5 search dogs, 2,013 tents, 10,000 blankets, 2,292 water supplies, 5 mobile catering trucks, and 2 portable kitchens.  Even though these numbers look promising to the survivors and the displaced individuals, the sent supplies were only enough to help half of the needing people.  Therefore, half of the displaced victims were forced to either find another form of shelter or to sleep outside in the freezing winter weather.  One resident, Baran Bungar, described the lack of assistance.  “The aid is coming in but we are not getting it.. We need more police, soldiers, and supplies.”  Due to the lack in supplies, the Milliyet newspaper reported that there have been fistfights in from of some aid trucks.  To compact the issues further, only 15 percent of the area’s inhabitants have some form of insurance. 

Text

Hacaoglu, S. (2011, October 25). Turkey Earthquake 2011: Thousands Spend

      Second Night Outdoors. Retrieved October 22, 2011, from http://www.huffing

      tonpost.com/2001/10/25/turkey-earthquake-2011_n_1030005

Operational Priorities in Post-Disaster Events

Some areas of the world have used the recent increase of natural disasters to spark their interest in developing emergency operation plans for use in post-disaster situations.  Marin County, for example, has developed a recovery committee aimed to direct short and long-term recovery efforts in accordance with these emergency operation plans.  In addition, to the recovery committee, a Post-Disaster Housing Task Force has been developed to provide Tier One (short-term) and Tier Two (long-term) sheltering options.  A few of the tasks the Post-Disaster Housing Task Force will provide would include: indentifying needed resources, establishing sheltering sites, providing outreach programs (to keep the victims informed), and providing special need victims with special considerations.  In the Task Force’s plan, they list four post-disaster procedures which include accelerating repairs to moderately damages buildings, develop short and long-term housing, and expedite the repairs of significantly damages buildings.  Within these four procedures, the Task Force has added seven steps. 

Image 1 - Displaced people stranded on an onramp waiting for public transportation after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans

The following seven steps are cited directly from Marin County’s emergency plan.  The first step is “determining the need.”

·         Conduct damage assessment inspections and evaluate the impact on total housing stock

·         Estimate the number of victims that may need assistance

·         Identify and register victims

·         Establish system for tracking victim status and contact information

·         Identify scope of post-disaster housing services to be provided

·         Housing, furnishings, utilities, moving, pet needs, transportation

·         Establish criteria for selecting and prioritizing assistance to victims

·         Income, length of time as a Marin resident and special needs

The second step is to “identify and obtain needed resources.”

·         Coordinate efforts with community-based organizations

·         Apply for state and federal assistance

·         Contact the American Red Cross to review the potential for establishing a Rental Housing Replacement Fund

·         Review availability and suitability of temporary housing technology

Image 2 - FEMA trailer beginning to arrive to start developing a temporary FEMA trailer village

The third step is “selecting temporary housing site and housing technology.”

·         Review suggested site selections criteria

·         Coordinate with local communities

·         Enter into agreement with property owners

                  ·         Placing sites along existing transit routes and hubs

The fourth step is “coordinating the delivery of services.”

·         Assist in providing access to licensed contractors

·         Support private companies in obtaining, transporting, and storing construction materials to speed repairs and reconstruction

·         Consider off-site temporary and long-term storage of personal goods

·         Coordinate for delivery of services to sites

·         Establish project management system

·         Contracting, Access, and Utilities

Image 3 - A FEMA worker hooking up the trailers utilities

The fifth step is the “transition from emergency shelter to temporary housing

·         Develop and execute legal agreements

·         Assign victims to Tier I and ii housing

·         Assist victims in relocating to new housing (packing, shipping, unpacking)

·         Establish and Support neighborhood networks in the new housing area

·         Close emergency shelters

The sixth step is to “manage temporary housing.”

·         Coordinate the delivery of public, safety, health, mental health, and social services

·         Facilitate access to services that will assist victims in identifying permanent housing options

·         Close down Tier One housing

The last step is the “transition from temporary to permanent housing.”

·         Track progress of moving to permanent housing on case-by –case basis

·         Consolidate housing stock and close low-density sites

·         Close down Tier Two housing

·         Supervise scheduled demolition/ recycling and/ or re-use of temporary housing

Image 4 - After the trailers are set up, temporary buildings are constructed to house public gatherings

 

Below is a list of criteria that was used to help guide in the site selection process

Physical Characteristics

·         Size Useable area of one acre or greater

·         Slope relatively flat – no greater than 10%

·         Drainage sufficient drainage on site and downstream

Utilities

·         Water feeder

·         Sewer trunk

·         Electricity peak load capacity

·         Telephone voice and data capacity

·         Physical access routes for pipes and overhead lines

Transpiration

·         Roads within 5 miles or major roadways

·         More than one entry/exit route

·         Transit direct access to existing system or access sufficient for new system

Subjective Evaluation Measures

·         Access to churches and community centers

·         Proximity to the original homes

·         Schools impact on local schools

·         Access to local stores and restaurants

Text

Post-Disaster Housing Annex Marin Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan. (2003

       December). Retrieved October, 19 2011, from http://www.co.marin.ca.us/disaster

Post-Disaster Sheltering Concerns in Third World Countries

On December, 26, 2004, a 9.1 magnitude earthquake, the 3^rd strongest in recorded history, struck the Indian Ocean.  This massive earthquake produced 98 foot high tsunami waves which killed 230,000 people, making it the 5^th deadliest tsunami in recorded history.  The majority of the affected areas were located in countries and communities which lack substantial economic growth.  Due to this unthinkable event, shelters not only need to be designed for the United States, they also need to be designed for 3^rd world countries.  In addition, in 1978, Ian Davis wrote the following, “shelters must be considered as a process, not as an object” (Kennedy, para1).  To accompany Davis’s statement, shelters must be viewed as a series of actions to provide the users with certain needs (health, privacy, livelihood support, and physical and psychological security).  Within this blog, three main points are discussed to help portray the events that occur when providing a 3^rd world country with sheltering. 

Image 1 - Disaster relief supplies arriving to devastated communities

The first point is pointing out the advantages of involving the users of the shelters and settlements in the design process, rather than viewing them as objects that needs to be built, turned over to the recipients, and then left behind.  However, instead of being viewed as elements that support livelihood, health, and security, in most post-disaster situations, transitional sheltering is usually considered to be part of non-food item destruction.  On the other hand, communities and users need to realize that their participation does not imply community and personal control.  Their participation is needed to determine the needs and immediate wants of the users.  The users’ recommendations will be incorporated into the shelter’s design, only if it meets the needs and requirements of the environment.  For example, after the tsunami, communities in Sri Lanka requested Western-style concrete structures because they represent progress and development; however, concrete causes many complications due to Sri Lanka’s climate and environment.

 Instead of concrete, due to its good performance during an earthquake, organizations promoted the use of timber construction.  After the tsunami revenged the surrounding countries, the urgency to provide sheltering increased.  Due to this, the sheltering progress and success was measured by the number of shelters provided.  Therefore, the needs of the user were put on the back burner.  In a post-disaster situation, a shelter can be used for more than just protecting the displaced individuals.  In 3^rd world countries, temporary sheltering can be used for storing food, materials, as well as providing communities with temporary sheltering. Another tremendous challenge in Sri Lanka, after the tsunami, was providing temporary sheltering and settlement, without giving the users the notion of permanent housing.  These challenges could have been lessened by answering one question before starting the shelter’s design. The organizations should have asked themselves, before designing, what and where these shelters are transforming the users to.

Image 2 - An example of a semi-permanent sheltering option

The second point is that the transitional sheltering and settlement should not only deal with the people affected by the tsunami, but with a much wider population spectrum.  In Sri Lanka, the shelter’s recipients were based on being a tsunami-affected individual; therefore, conflict-people were left out.  For example, in Trincomalee, over 20,000 shelter units were pledged by relief organizations; however, only 7,000were required for tsunami-affected communities.  After discovering the exact number, the pledged number was adjusted to fit the needs of the tsunami-affected individuals.  Due to the overwhelming attention to the risk of tsunamis, the very possible earthquake risk went to the waste side.  In addition, there are even divisions within the tsunami-affected individuals.  Even though all the affected individuals went through similar situations, renters and homeless people were given much less support than those who had owned their own house and /or property. 

Image 3 - A shelter attached to a house, while the users are in the process of reconstructing a house

The third point is that the transitional shelters and settlements should address the root causes of the displaced individuals’ vulnerability.  Urban development in Sri Lanka, for decades, involved poor planning and inadequate attention to sustainable living.  These actions contributed to the population increase in coastal areas, which are vulnerable to tsunamis.  To compound these problems, organizations did not conduct environmental impact assessments; therefore, the long-term urban planning of the settlements was not taken into consideration.  Due to these past actions of Sir Lanka, settlements and shelters could not suddenly spring up after the tsunami on December 26, 2004.  Once completed, the new settlements were built without considering the sites locations, as well as allowing for adequate square footage.  This lack of planning resulted in settlements having open storm water drainage, which were located at the front doors of some buildings and shelters.  Some of the site locations, zones where coastal flooding and tsunamis would occur, were not thought about; therefore they were excluded.  However, these coastal areas are required to sustain the livelihood of those who depend on the sea for food and economic growth.  Since excluding post-disaster settlements, these coastal zones were used for other purposes, such as building hotels. 

Image 4 - a gathering of children in a disaster settlement after the Indian Ocean tsunami

The experiences of Sri Lanka, after the tsunami, provided organizations with information regarding the community, environment, and coordination that could help courtiers become better prepared when another disaster strikes their area.  In regards to the community, their participation in decision making for settlement and sheltering should be executed before another disaster strikes.   In addition, their participations should include various ages, genders, and ethnicities.  In regards to the environment, certain considerations must be taken into account to help minimize long-term impacts on the ecosystem.  In return, this will lead to lessen the impacts on the displaced individuals.  In regards to coordination, it is mandatory that organizations, builders, and beneficiaries create a consistent and system of local and national building codes.

Text

Kennedy, J. (2007 March). Post-Tsunami Transitional Settlements and Shelter: Field

       Experiences from Aceh and Sri Lanka. Retreived October 19, 2011, from

       http://www.odiphn.org/report.asp/asp?id=2879

The Tornado Outbreak of 2011 Becomes the Origin of a Nationwide Storm Shelter Panic

Tornado season occurs between the months of April and June, with 50 percent of all confirmed tornadoes being located in the southern states.  In addition, most tornadoes occur between noon and sunset.  However, tornadoes are very unpredictable; therefore, they can appear suddenly at any time, day or night, January through December.  Due to unpredictable situations in which these numbers can produce, sheltering is not only needed after a natural disaster, it is also needed before and during one.  The tornado season of 2011 was one for the record books.  As of today, there has been 1,276 confirmed tornadoes in 2011, 77 of which were rated EF3 or higher.  In addition, these tornadoes, which caused 20.25 billion dollars in damage, were responsible for 544 fatalities. 

Image 1 -  A community after being demolished by a deadly tornado

Before a tornado struck Oklahoma City, which killed ten people, Glena Jones and eight other people packed together into a neighbor’s storm shelter.  Glen Jones told New York Times reporters that as soon as she gets over the shock of the recent disaster, she is going to order a storm shelter for her house.  Therefore, 2001, being one of the deadliest seasons in the nation’s history, has persuaded Gloria and thousands of individuals, within tornado alley, to purchase and install a storm shelter.  As on now, only three percent of American homes are equipped with storm shelters.  However, when purchasing a storm shelter, there are a number of elements to consider: materiality of the walls and flooring, the wall’s thickness, and the shelter’s maximum wind speed.

Image 2 - A volunteer helps a tornado victim out of her life saving storm shelter

 The first element, the shelter’s materiality, can either be made from fiberglass, concrete, and/or metal.  Fiberglass storm shelters, although being cheap, light, and easily installed, they tend to crack under the extreme high winds of EF4 and 5 tornadoes.  Much like fiberglass, concrete shelters have many positives.  However, in the humid tornado alley, the shelter’s concrete walls can sweat and become moldy.  In addition, under the high winds or a deadly tornado, concrete wall can crack; therefore, water can seep into the shelter’s interior usable space.  On the other hand, metal shelters, if coated properly, are safe, long-lasting, and keeps the interior dry.  After researching, you might be able to find a cheaper storm shelter solution; although, the quality and durability of the shelter in a strong EF 4 or 5 tornado will lack when compared to a metal shelter. 

Image 3 - A house was removed from its foundation, only leaving the entrance to a storm shelter

The material of the shelter’s floor is just as important as its wall’s material.  Due to increased lighting strikes in a strong storm, a metal storm shelter should be located on a metal floor.  By doing this, the metal walls and floor are completely grounded.  On the other hand, if located on a concrete surface, the users who were touching the metal exterior walls become the new ground during a lightning strike; therefore, causing electrocution.  The second element, the wall’s thickness, if metal, can range from 1/8 to ¼ of an inch.  However, the walls for a concrete shelter, on an average, are six inches thick. 

The exterior wall’s thickness closely corresponds to the maximum winds that the shelter can withstand.  A 1/8 of an inch metal shelter can withstand a maximum wind speed of 250 miles per hour.  On May 3, 1999, the fastest tornado wind speed ever recorded reaching 318 miles per hour; therefore thicker shelter walls are needed.  To solve this problem, some shelters are using ¼ inch metal walls.  These thicker walls would provide the users protection from winds up to 330 miles per hour.  In addition, all storm shelters should incorporate a three deadbolt door, as well as be able to withstand a 100 mile per hour debris strike.  By doing this, the users are provided with a shelter what is as secure as possible. 

Image 4 - Individuals walking around a storm shelter showroom

To respond to the increasing frequency of tornadoes per year, some states are beginning to incorporate storm sheltering requirements.  Apartment buildings in Minnesota and Kansas require that storm shelters must be built near mobile home parks.  In addition, Alabama passed a law this year which requires all new schools to have storm shelters build into them.  When questioned about these requirements, William Bell, the mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, stated that, “people in Alabama get very sensitive when you start to talk about the government mandating certain things.  If [the government is] going to put a mandate on people, how are you going to help them pay for it” (Severson para 6). 

 On an average, a typical storm shelter’s cost can range from $3,000 for a concrete bunker to $10,000 for an elaborate steel room.  On the other hand, some of the lower quality storm shelters are a little more than a septic tank which is rigged to accommodate people, as described by Dr. Ernst Kiesling, a professor of civil engineering at Texas Tech University.  To help lessen the economic impacts of mandatory sheltering, FEMA has offered to pay for 75 percent of the cost of all approved storm shelters.  In addition, FEMA had encourages all states to use a portion of their federal disaster relief funds to help homeowners and communities offset the cost of installing storm shelters.  After Hurricane Katrina struck the Unites States in 2005, Mississippi used part of their 6.6 million dollars in relief money to help pay for hundreds of new storm shelters. 

Text
Severson, K. (2011, May 25). Storms Create a Scramble to Install Shelters. Retrieved
       October 19, 2011, from http;//www.nytimes.com/2011/05/26/us/26shelter.html

Recent Research: New Tempoary Sheltering Ideas - part 5

            Since finishing my graduate thesis project this in August of 2011, does not mean that I have stopped my research on temporary sheltering and post-disaster events.  After spending a year designing the “Sofortig(a) Shelter,” I want to keep up on sheltering options that would be feasible for a United States application (the Cocoon, the Pallet House, the Concrete Canvas Shelter, the Sanctuary House, the Cardboard House, and Studio D’s temporary sheltering option).

 

In the times after a natural disaster, it is beneficial, both physically and psychologically, to be in communication with other people who were also affected by the natural disaster.  The Sphere attempts to accomplish this by providing nineteen separate units, which creates a circle layout.  By being in a circle or sphere layout, the center of the shelter can be used as a social center.  This provides the users the ability to interact with individuals who are in a similar situation; therefore, helping them to get over the destruction they faced.  The Sphere Shelter, combining nineteen unite, provides the users with the opportunity to get into contact with others; therefore, the Sphere Shelter “becomes a germ cell for a community who is working properly” (Sphere-shaped para 1). 

Image 1 - A daytime view of the Sphere Shelter

Image 2 - A view of multiple Sphere Shelters grouped together

Each of the nineteen separate tents can house three individuals; however, the partition walls can be detached to create a larger livable space for a growing family.  The Sphere Shelter is comprised of both an exterior and as interior fabric material.  The exterior fabric material is waterproof.  On the other hand, the interior material is made from a permeable nylon ripstop material.  The interior material, by supplying a ripstop material, helps prevent the material from ripping due to extreme weather.  In addition, fiber glass plastic stakes are incorporated to securely attach the shelter to the ground.  Unlike the FEMA trailer, which was used once and discarded, the Sphere Shelter, by incorporating the above materials, can be completely recycled if needed after its use. 

Due to the government’s ill-preparedness during a natural disaster, there is a need for a designed temporary shelter to replace the expensive FEMA trailer.  Michael Daniels, a senior designer at Frog Design, took this situation as a design challenge when he designed the Reaction House.  His emergency shelter was designed to facilitate rapid shelter deployment, wile supplying the users with a complete unit, including infrastructure, interior furnishings, and wiring for utilities.  To remain affordable, Daniel’s shelter costs $5,000 and can be reusable, which is a great feat when compared to the $65,000 FEMA trailer.  In addition, in the events of a large family, these Reaction Houses can be combined together, supplying as much usable square footage as possible. 

Image 3 - The Reaction Shelters being unloaded from a cargo boat

Image 4 - Showing how a commnity of Reaction Houses would be incorporated

To exploit the rapid deployment aspect, these shelters can arrive to a designated location via truck, railway, waterway, and/or airplane.  In addition, four people can unload the shelter, as well as set it up without the use of tools.  These shelters can be deployed in two situations, soft and hard deployment.  Soft deployment is a set up which utilizes the existing facility for power, sanitation, and food services.  Therefore, the shelter is only used for living and sleeping.  On the other hand, a hard deployment would consider the shelter as an independent structure, which would be powered by a generator.  In addition, the shelter would have their own small kitchen, climate controls, and sanitation system.  On the other hand, a few elements would need to be incorporated to create a more successful independent shelter.  These things would include: solar panels, solar batteries, and a cistern system.

Text

Meinhold, B. (208, November 28). Prefab Friday: Reaction Housing Emergency

       Shelters. Retrieved October 15, 2001, from http://inhabitat.com/prefab-friday-

       housing-emergency-shelters

Sphere-Shaped Emergency Shelter Bonds Community. (2007, August, 14).

       Retrieved November 15, 2001, from http://yankodesign.com/2007/

       08/14/sphere-shaped-emergency-shelter-bonds-community