Designing earthquake-resistant shelters

For centuries, earthquakes have been an inevitable phenomenon that brings destruction and devastation all around the world and we aren’t any more prepared or equipped to deal with them than we used to be. This is a worldwide issue and although some countries like Japan are better prepared with the proper infrastructure to deal with these disasters, still many countries remain that are powerless in the face of these disasters. Countries like Iran, Indonesia, and Turkey are some of the countries that are most prone to earthquakes but don’t have the necessary infrastructure to minimize the damage.

One of the most recent examples of these catastrophic earthquakes is the one that happened in Kermanshah, Iran and another one of the most destructive ones was the 2003 Bam earthquake both of which resulted in severe loss of life and devastation during and after they happened. Calamities like these happen all around the world frequently and cost the lives and livelihoods of thousands of people, yet no major solutions have been put forward. 

By reaching a solution on how to manage these disasters and deal with their destruction and damages, we could potentially save many lives and prevent the loss of a notable sum of resources.

But the question still remains, how do we approach this issue that not only provides a solution for immediate relief after disaster strikes but also foresees steps and precautions that can be taken beforehand to lessen the damages and ease the process of rebuilding?

The problem of disaster management and providing shelter and basic needs after a natural disaster has been a long-lasting issue that hasn’t had any significant progression. Today, 2 years after the earthquake in Kermanshah many people are still living in temporary containers and haven’t been able to resume their ordinary day-to-day lives.

After all, how do we provide a large number of spaces for injured and traumatized people in a short amount of time? How much can we plan ahead? Or maybe find a way around this issue because for as far as we know earthquakes are bound to happen whether we are prepared or not.

The brief was not to stop at only temporary housing solutions or ready-made objects or products that could be utilized after an earthquake, rather, we’re asking for a broader solution and an approach to prepare a city and provide accommodation for the survivors of an earthquake. The competition aims for realistic results that can be used on Site in Tabriz. 

The jury for the competition consisted of esteemed designers, professionals, and academicians from around the world. The Lead Jurors for the competitions were as follows: 

Pouya Khazaeli, Director, Esfahk Mud Center, Iran

Emre Arolat, Founding Partner & Principal, Emre Arolat Architecture, United States

Faramarz Parsi, CEO, “Emarat khosrshid” consultant engineers, Iran

Jorge Arvizu Soto, Partner, Estudio MMX, Mexico

Cristiano Luchetti, Assistant Professor, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah - United Arab Emirates

 

Some of the Best of competition projects are:

 

Winning Project: The Indomitable Persian Blossom

By: Hu Xin yue  

Description: The design is inspired by the indomitable ‘Persian Blossom’, and focuses on the spiritual connotation of the transition from temporary emergency housing to permanent reconstruction, so as to meet the needs for continuity and sustainable development of the local culture of the designated site.

------------------

Runner - Up: Revival Park

By: Mitra Seyyedpour Esmaeilzadeh, Safiyeh Nami, sepehr amer & Armane Tavassoli

Description: Revival park has been designed by the inspiration of old famous gardens of Bagh-Shomal. It includes temporary shelters for earthquake victims which uses indigenous materials and Techniques of old houses and nomadic tents of the region. The purpose of the project is to revive the favorable sense of the site and people who existed in the past tense.

-----------------

People Choice: RETURN TO REBORN

By: Amir Majd, Me M, فاطمه شعبانپور & Zhale Rezvani

Description: Reborn is the biggest feature of the people of Tabriz. Return to history to discover the conditions for the emergence of this feature in anthropology, sociology, construction, and how to deal with problems

-----------------------

Editor’s Choice: Reborn plan for survival competition

By: Ali Moradi

Description: by analyzing the existing historical buildings of the site, the existing sheds are considered as a good potential for this project. Accordingly, in order to revive the history of Baghshomal, the existing sheds of the site have been used.

--------------------

Editor’s Choice: BAZAAR CITY

By: Massimo Imparato

Description: A city interconnect by the main core, its polarizing force. In our case, the Polar Point is the plot Baghe Somal, an area of cities where people can live and spend their time as a community. Both in emergency and no emergency situations.

--------------------

Editor’s Choice: The Silk Road Housing

By: Studio Projetos BR

Description: Through the ages, a shelter simply meant protection. The protection is divided into two main criteria: the first, it needs to be fast and efficient, meets the need for a quick protocol that arises from the earthquake problem, needs to be agile and easy in its assembly. The second, the transformation of the shelter into a permanent home.

--------------------

Editor’s Choice: Reborn, Plan, and HOPE for Survival

By: Soheib Rahmani

Description: What is life like after a crisis? For people who have lost their whole lives, an important component called HOPE can revive them all, but we need time to do so. To do this, we need to provide the context and leave the rest to the self-made energy of the survivors.

---

Discover the design brief here: https://uni.xyz/competitions/reborn/info/about

Discover the full results here: https://uni.xyz/competitions/reborn/entries

---

Follow us on social media: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter | Youtube

---

Discover other design competitions to participate here: https://uni.xyz/competitions