Rethinking Disaster Housing:
From the course: Sustainability Studio, taught by Nathan Shedroff and Susan Gladwin
Rowan Edwards
Erik Ehrke
Carla Voorhees
The Interim Community system is made up of ISO container homes that can be rapidly and effectively deployed and thereby act to immediately limit the human losses and trauma, which typically continue to occur after the immediate cause of the disaster has passed. In addition, our physical solution is part of an integrated strategy that includes:
- Planning that would allow the homes to be staged for instantaneous transport and placement
- Policy that provides a Job Corps program to speed recovery, protect mental well-being and engage, community
- Design for self-sufficiency that provides mobile Community Modules that house essentials like water and power, but also laundry facilities and community spaces.
After our interviews and competitive analysis, we determined that a single shelter solution would not adequately meet all of the needs that we identified, especially to "Foster a Sense of Community." We believe that the human cost of the disaster far outweighs financial cost, and protecting the lives and well-being of those who have been displaced is crucial.
Shelter:
Using ISO containers as a basis for disaster housing is more sustainable because there are thousands of ISOs sitting unused at ports and railroad depots all across the country. Upcycling these material and energy-intense containers and giving them a second life as a house for someone. In addition, ISOs are standardized, having been designed to function as a global, intermodal shipping medium. This ensures easy, system-agnostic transportation and storage of our solution. ISOs fit on railroad cars, semi-trucks & container ships. Lastly, ISOs are 95% recycled steel & require few modifications.
Community:
Village Lay-outs: Each village layout depends on geography, location and needs. Villages are initially organized into units of 100 ISO homes, grouped into five sub-groups of 20 dwelling units, spaced out sufficiently so as to provide space for expansion. Open spacing provides some privacy and allows families and friends and neighbors to join encampments that they have affinity for. ISO homes can be easily moved - even back to damaged communities as those communities are rebuilt. FEMA wishes to provide flexibility to accommodate people's location needs. Each camp is organized around central recreational and community spaces (including library, tool lending library, computer rooms and meeting rooms).
Modules: Community Modules to support the growth and recovery of the affected area will be located in each village. Some of these include a water supply tank, back-up generator shed with green-energy options, community center, tool library, community kitchen, library, laundry facilities, mobile medical van and hygiene facilities.
Job Corps:
All able-bodied men and women older than 18 in your household may assist in the cleanup and rebuilding efforts for 40 hours per month in lieu of paying rent for ISO shelters during the first year. Certain private sector jobs may meet this requirement as well. In addition, if your regular job has disappeared due to the disaster, there are opportunities for you to work full-time of the clean-up effort for $15 - $50 per hour depending on experience and skill levels.
