DEPLOY-Cyclones

Tropical cyclones, a critical natural hazard, has occurred frequently throughout history in the Indian subcontinent, especially in the state of West Bengal. The Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, Hurricane Amphan and Hurricane Bulbul are the cyclones that have caused the most damage and loss of life in the Indian subcontinent in recent history. Selected as a design area among the regions where poverty maximizes damage, Satjelia Village is protected by a natural embankment thanks to the flood-resistant mangrove trees of the Sundarban forest. The Sundarban Mangrove forest, which was formed as a result of the tides on the coasts and hosts a wide variety of living species with an area of approximately 10,000 square kilometers, was the starting point of the project concept. 

Mangroves have the ability to capture and store atmospheric carbon dioxide, which causes global warming, and convert it into oxygen through photosynthesis.  With this feature, it has an important place in combating global warming, which increases the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones.  Satjelia Village, which is located on the coast of Sundarban, is threatened by the effects of climate change.  Illegal logging for construction material to accommodate a rapidly growing population has left the area vulnerable to strong tropical cyclones.  Sea level and coastal erosion, which rise further with the demolishing of trees, are destroying the village.  With the alternative building material and construction technique proposed by the project, it is aimed to put an end to illegal timbering, to re-expand the forest environment, to improve the degraded ecosystem thanks to the carbon retention feature of the mangroves, and to transform the region into a natural mechanism that can protect itself. 

The goal is to design a built environment rather than design a shelter in the region in order to make it more humane and livable for people who will live in shelters for a long time until the water recedes after the tropical cyclone. In this direction, places of worship and prayer were added to the design program for the people who believe that a god protects them.  Thanks to the spiritual effects of these spaces, it is aimed that the design area will have a positive effect on people and make them feel safe.  Another function added to the design program in line with a more humane design approach is education and play spaces for children.  These spaces are isolated from the outside environment thanks to the walls.  In this way, the objective of this is enabling children to have a good time and receive education without external influences.  In the design area, a square where people can gather and get distributed to shelter modules in case of a disaster has been designed.  In order to continue the use of the square after everyone has settled in their shelters, places of worship and education have been set up on this square.  The basic design criterion of the houses in the Satjelia region, which has a warm and humid climate, is to provide protection against heat by shading.  This design criterion in the region was also applied in the project and the shaded areas were included in the design.  The traditional courtyard plan of the area has shaped the layout plan of the project on a larger scale. 

In order for the shelter unit to be built easily and quickly in the event of a disaster, the carrier system can be set up by the local people in advance and completed in the event of a disaster.  The design area has been raised 1.5 meters from the ground in order to protect it from floods.  The carrier system consists of vertical bamboo elements placed 3 meters apart.  The fact that bamboo material grows in the region in a short period of time and its high strength has been a large factor to be chosen as a structure material.  The heavily rooted mangrove tree protects the Satjelia against storm waves, currents and erosion caused by tides and its structure has been a source of inspiration in the structure formation of the project. The ideal material that will enable the system to be completed by closing the carrier systems in case of disaster, is a high quality, low cost and easily buildable material. For this purpose, panels consisting of recyclable materials such as paper and cardboard, which are an innovative alternative construction material, have been proposed.  The walls are formed by combining panels that are 8 millimeters wide. They’re easy to move and can be integrated with each other.  The outside of the panels is covered with a waterproof sponge tape backed with adhesive for insulation.  The material cost for a 81 square meter unit is under $ 3,000.  The modules are easy to install and disassemble and the materials are easily recyclable.