Short and Medium Needs for Emergency and Refugee Shelter - Term Paper Example

Running Head: Short and Medium Term Needs For Emergency and Refugee Shelter [Name] [Professor Name] [Course] [Date] Abstract Contemporary designers and architects have concentrated on designing and building short and medium term housing that fulfill satisfactory physical standards, relate to established cultural parameters, use the proper materials and represent a basic need for the refugees. This essay examines how contemporary designers are and architects are addressing the short and medium term needs for emergency and refugee shelter and the key considerations for designing these kinds of dwellings for the short and medium-terms. Further, it compares and contrasts three different kinds of solutions. How contemporary designers and architects address the short and medium term needs for emergency and refugee shelter Contemporary designers and architects are morally obligated to design emergency and refuge shelters while focusing on providing environmentally-friendly shelter, reuniting families, locating loved ones, fighting diseases as well as fostering community solidarity (Baker & Zetter, 1995). For the emergency shelters to be effective, designers and architects today utilize readily available and inexpensive materials that ensure economical and speedy constructions (Wortham, 2007). Architecture for Humanity (2006) illustrates that in building emergency and refugee shelters, designers and architects use materials that are scalable, environmentally-friendly or locally available. Indeed, shelters that are built using local materials can help revive economy. Therefore, it is important that reconstruction of affected communities starts at this level to promote the long-term stability of their cultures and economy. Baker and Zetter (1995) also argue that, in addition to placing great emphasis on the magnificence of the shelters, the shelters are designed based on the need to ensure speedy construction while at the same time the structure remains economically-feasible. This concept has been largely shown in recently designed refugee and emergency shelters. For instance, Shigeru Ban, a Japanese architect, designed “Paper Log” construction shelters in 1994 following a series of earthquakes in Japan. Ban’s design utilized local materials, ensured magnificent, speedy and cot-efficient construction. This is consistent with an argument by UNHCR (2013), which specifies that refugees need to have psychological feeling that they live under comfortable and pleasant conditions. Indeed, Ban’s Paper Tube structure (PTS) is made of recycles cardboard tubes (106 millimeters in diameter) that are molded into fortified columns. The columns are bent into trusses which are then assembled. In the spaces between the paper tubes, a waterproof sponger tape is applied. The units occupy 16 square meters. The bases of each structure comprise crates that are filled with sandbags to keep the foundation intact. Plywood floor is aligned along the perimeters f the crates while the plywood pegs are positioned around the exterior perimeter. Steel rods are placed horizontally for extra support and to keep the tubes intact while the roof is made out of tent material (Design Boom, 2009). Another economically feasible emergency and refuge shelter is the Sandbag Shelter that was designed by Nader Khalili in Tehran. In the construction of the structure, Aga Khan Development Network (2007) explains that the sandbags are filled with earth and laid in courses in a circular plan. Barbed wire is then placed between the courses to hold the sandbags in place. The barbed wires are intended to hold the sandbags in place thus preventing the entire structure from shakes or tremors, such as earthquakes. Sandbag Shelters are forms of arches, vaults or domes that are used to create single and double-curvature structures. Each shelter consists of an additional space for sanitary services and cooking. According to Antonelli (2005), contemporary designers and architects have also focused on shelters adaptability to diverse locations and types of refugees. This concept is further illustrated by Shigeru Ban’s paper tube housing, which must have been designed with the understanding that each type of refugee faces divergent situation. In 1999, Ban’s construction was piloted in Rwanda to settle the Rwandan 1994 genocide refugees after it became apparent to the UNHCR that the refugees were selling the aluminum poles they had been given to erect tent houses, and instead improvised timber to erect the tents (Design Boom, 2009). With the risk of millions of employees undertaking the trend, Ban’s paper tube construction provided the solution (Arch Daily, 2013). Contemporary designers and architects also design short and medium term shelters that can be transported easily, while ensuring that the strength of the design lies on its ability to be moved into difficult and disaster-stricken regions. For instance, with regard to the Sustainable Housing for Refugees via Mass Production (SHRIMP) housing project that was piloted in 2005, it must have been designed with the dimensions for international standards for shipping containers in mind. As illustrated by World Changing (2013), SHRIMPs are made out of “pontoons that can automatically expand or inflate by use of compressed air canisters”. The pontoons are constructed from farmed wood. The structure can fold up to occupy a quarter of the shipping container. They can also be “refitted for reuse or retrofitted out of shipping containers” (Vestal Design, 2008). Since they occupy a quarter of the shipping containers, on analysis, this means that each container can carry four SHRIMP houses, and since a container ship can carry an average of 6,400 containers, single container ship could ship houses for an estimated 100,000 refugees. Considerations for designing the shelters for the short and medium-terms Great disparity in building standards, climatic conditions, urbanization levels and building processes have collectively complicated contemporary processes of designing emergency and refugee shelter, prompting for the need to considers a range of aspects designing the shelters for the short and medium-terms (Baker & Zetter, 1995). According to Fitrianto (2011), shelter is an “essential component of humanitarian relief and plays a significant role in the psychological and physical health of the affected people during disasters.” This concept outlines the basic considerations. Short and medium term needs for emergency and refugee shelters should therefore fulfill satisfactory physical standards, relate to established cultural parameters, use the proper materials and represent a basic need for the refugees (AFH, 2001; I-Beam, 2008). In addition to meeting the ‘architectural scale’ of designing shelters, Manfield (1999) explains that they should also meet macro-level requirements, such as settlement location and economic impact. This is because increased number of refugees in the last two decades has placed pressure on the settlement structures, housing resources and land use patterns of the host countries. Aside from local building materials, the design and construction of the emergency and refugee shelters should be based on the indigenous technologies. Alternatively, it should allow for careful adaptation of non-traditional or imported materials and methods, otherwise the shelter would be too expensive (Bell & Wakeford, 2008). For instance, in the case of Sierra Leone civil strife, the basic construction materials imported by UNHCR were relatively expensive (Baker & Zetter, 1995). The impact of the shelter to the refugees should also be a considered since the sector is greatly vulnerable to acute demand due to supply bottlenecks resulting from influx of employees. In addition, given the consequences of scarcity, refugees cause long-term unfavorable environment impact (Baker & Zetter, 1995). Unplanned responses should for this reason be replaced by evaluating the needs and supply for the short and medium term needs of the refugees. Another requirement is the durability of the conditions. Although emergency and refuge shelters are politically deemed as a temporary option, a careful consideration on their durability is essential, since they can exist for decades (Baker & Zetter, 1995). The need to design and construct housing options for long-term settlement and self-efficiency from the beginning of an emergency is therefore crucial. Three kinds of solutions for emergency or refugee shelter The three housing solutions include the “Sandbag Shelter”, Paper Tube and Shrimp. First, Sandbag Shelter was designed by Nader Khalili in Tehran in 1992. The walls are made out of sandbags that are filled with earth. Barbed wire is then placed between the courses to hold the sandbags in place. Shigeru Ban’s ‘Paper Tube’ was first deigned in 1994 in Japan. The foundation of the house is created from beer crates that are compressed by sandbags. The walls are made from cardboard tubing and the roof consists of waterproof tent fabric (Design Boom, 2009; McQuaid, 2003). SHRIMP housing projects was developed by Vestal Designs in 2005. Unlike Sandbag Shelter or Paper Tubes, they are typically constructed from timber products. Unlike the Paper tube” and SHRIMP housing which are a wholly contemporary design, “Sandbag Shelters” integrate a mix of traditional and contemporary design. The three are made from locally available materials using comparatively simple tools, thus the cost of transportation and construction are minimal. Both ‘Paper tube” and SHRIMP use contemporary materials and high-tech designs. However, they all offer simple, economic and durable options to modern-day refugees and low-income housing, except for SHRIMPs which are relatively expensive (I-Beam Design, 2008; McQuaid, 2003). The Sandbag shelter, the Paper Tube and the SHRIMP are culturally sensitive, as they are adaptable to divergent cultures of the world, since they can be varied to meet particular cultural needs of the affected populations. The three are also environmentally friendly. While “Paper Tubes” and SHRIMPs can be used under various climatic conditions, Sandbag Shelter has limited use in diverse climates. In conclusion, shelter is a critical component of humanitarian relief that plays a crucial role in restoring the psychological, social and physical wellbeing of the affected people during disasters. Basing on this assumption, contemporary designers and architects have focused on designing short and medium term emergency and refugee shelters that meet satisfactory physical standards, relate to established cultural parameters, use the proper materials and represent a basic health and environmental requirements for the refugees. (1501 Words) References Aga Khan Development Network (2007). Sandbag Shelter Prototypes. Web. Retrieved 15 July 2013 Antonelli, P. (2005) Safe: Design Takes on Risk. New York, USA: MOMA, New York. Arch Daily (2013) Post-Tsunami Housing/Shigeru Ban Architects. Web. Retrieved 11 July 2013 Architecture for Humanity (Eds.) (2006) Design like You Give a Damn: Architectural Responses to Humanitarian Crises. London, UK: Thames & Hudson. Baker, J & Zetter, R. (1995) Refugee and Labour Movements in Sub-Saharan Africa: Shelter Provision and Settlement Policies for Refugees. Sweden: Nordiska Afrikainstitutet. Web. Retrieved 11 July 2013 Bell, B. & Wakeford, K. (Eds.) (2008) Expanding Architecture: Design as Activism. New York, USA: Metropolis. Design Boom (2009). Shigeru Ban: Paper Loghouse. Web Retrieved 11 July 2013 Fitrianto, A. (2011). ‘Learning from Aceh’, in M. Aquilino (Ed.), Beyond Shelter: Architecture for Crisis, Thames & Hudson: London. I-Beam Design, 2008. Humanitarian Projects. Web.   Retrieved 11 July 2013 Manfield, P. (1999). Emergency Shelter for Humanitarian Relief in Cold Climates: Policy and Praxis. Cambridge: Cambridge University McQuaid, M. (2003). Shigeru Ban. London, UK: Phaidon, (especially chapter on ‘Paper’, pp.28-47.) Refugee Council Australia. (2008). Australia’s Refugee and Humanitarian Program Community views on current challenges and future directions. Web. Retrieved 11 July 2013 UNHCR (2013). Shelter: A Roof over their heads. Web. Retrieved 11 July 2013 Vestal Design (2009). SHRIMP Refugee Housing. Web. Retrieved 11 July 2013 World Changing. 2013. SHRIMP: Sustainable Housing for Refugees via Mass Production. Web. Retrieved 15 July 2013 Wortham, J. (2007) Instant Housing and Designing for Disaster. Web. Retrieved 11 July 2013 Read More