The Christchurch Earthquake: A New Zealand Post-Disaster Housing Solution

Abstract

On February 22nd 2011, Christchurch New Zealand experienced a devastating earthquake that shook the Canterbury community. The old city crumbled and continues to do so through many concerning aftershocks. The devastation of the Christchurch Earthquake has severely traumatised its residents. This suffering and uncertainty faced in Christchurch has left its residents no other option but to flee this disaster zone and to seek refuge in other parts of New Zealand, due in part to the effects of unplanned post-disaster temporary accommodation. The basic needs of humans have been taken away: food, water, shelter, electricity, security and warmth. I believe that a post-disaster temporary accommodation approach needs to be designed for New Zealand which can alter between the three mandatory stages of post-disaster housing, and ideally, can become permanent housing if required. This will allow it to be sustainable and provide residents, such as those in Christchurch, with these essential primary needs. The main concern here is to obtain immediately the confidence of people during and after the recovery period and to address the primary needs of residents. By combining these ideas through architecture we can provide immediate and sustainable post-disaster housing design that can keep the residents' confidence and provide them with these resources, allowing them to cope through and after the recovery period.