Abstract:
Current systems of disasters relief fall short of returning a community to
normal after a disaster event. I select Japan as my proposal site as this
is evident even in Japan, a nation with a long experience in post-disaster
relief and rebuilding. Individuals and households are usually provided
with basic shelter and services quickly, but the sense of community
is lost during the period of disaster relief. Several forms of relief assistance
that utilise methods and case studies from architecture, urban
design and urban planning will be discussed to present how existing
systems in Japan fall short of bringing a community back after a disaster
event. The thesis proposes a process that focuses on the design
process of how these shelters can progress from emergency shelters to
a permanent long living community that can restore the lost sense of
community in Japan. The focus on community culture, and on community-
focused architecture of the space which supports that culture, are
key components of a design process which will deliver what is missing
in Japans current relief systems.