Cameron Sinclair, the British-born and educated, California-based architect and cofounder of Architecture for Humanity addressed Canadian architects in mid-May about the role of architects in disaster response. There are organizations that excel in relief work, he said. Architects, though, help most if they organize to help survivors find lasting solutions over time.
Innovative, sustainable, and collaborative design makes a difference, starting with providing shelter and—through competitions, workshops, educational forums, and strategic partnerships—moving to develop the social and physical infrastructures that remake communities. Those are lessons he learned in bringing earthquake-resistant design concepts to Iran and Turkey, flood-control strategies to Southeast Asia, school buildings to India, and community planning efforts to the post-Katrina Gulf region.
Architects Without Borders founder Craig Williams offers his own take on how to approach community redevelopment after a disaster in this week’s Doer’s Profile. As first responders, he says, architects would be limited to a few individuals assessing needs to inform preliminary planning.
When the devastating catastrophe struck Greensburg, Kan., this past month, AIA members brought just such a holistic vision as they stepped up to help—and the way they determined they could help most is by endeavoring to bring the town back as a model of resource-efficient design.
Maybe architects aren’t the best first responders to bring disaster relief, but they are the ones communities are turning to for re-life.
What do you think?
Comments (4)
How are you, I I discovered your site on msn and browse pretty much all your other pages. I just added you to my RSS feeder. Keep up the amazing work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future. You know, I have to tell you, I really enjoy this website and the insight from everyone who participates. I find it to be refreshing and very informative. I wish there were more blogs like it. Anyway, I felt it was about time I posted, I?ve spent most of my time here just lurking and reading, but today for some reason I just felt compelled to say this.
Posted by buy acai berry | August 9, 2010 7:55 PM
Posted on August 9, 2010 19:55
The willingness to offer our time and talents to help those in need, especially when disaster strikes, is as important for architects and designers as anyone else. But the terms "relief" and "response" are reactions to events. There is very little about design that should by its nature be reactive. Design is a proactive and deliberate process of innovation, sustainability, and collaboration that, when applied with care and foresight, gives us the best chance withstand and survive such catastrophic occurences. We must work together to educate and build consensus in our communities for responsible environmental planning, design and construction.
An ounce of prevention...
Posted by Chuck Burleson | June 1, 2007 10:15 AM
Posted on June 1, 2007 10:15
I agree with Cameron and would add, that as a former Fulbright senior scholar to Sri Lanka with a focus on disaster relief work there and throughout South Asia (after the tsunami), a model I have found most useful is to come alongside indigenous architects and schools of architecture and to help empower these locals, certainly in overseas operations (for a model see: http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2006/02/05/fea28.html ).
In Pakistan after the earthquake I consulted with the head of the Office of Foreign Disaster Relief there engaging Pakistani Schools of Architecture and Planning in the relief process and long-term planning, which we found to be most successful. NGO's and military are best at immediate relief, although they tend to build mediocre "temporary" housing (using engineers only) which then has a way of becoming permanent (including tents, sadly).
Architects and product designers can design emergency kits/backpacks with supplies (e.g. solar lamps, radios, food products, toiletry kits, etc etc) for various climates and cultures for immediate delivery into disaster zones. These kits could be stored by military units ready to be dispatched at a moment's notice. So there are probably ways we could be useful and get creative in short-term operations. MJ
Posted by Marga Jann, AIA, RIBA, NCARB [Principal, Poetic License], Architects Without Borders | June 1, 2007 8:46 AM
Posted on June 1, 2007 08:46
I think it's important that we as architects do whatever we can do to help those who are victims of a catastrophic event.
I was a part of the rebuilding effort for the Beau Rivage Hotel and Casino in Biloxi, MS. after Hurrican Katrina and saw firsthand what a community goes through afterwords.
I think it's important that in those situations that we not think of ourselves first as architects, but as human beings, and we should do whatever we can to help.
Architect's as a whole are not the best first responders I agree, but at least we would respond to the call for help, and I applaud those members of the Kansas AIA who answered that call.
Posted by Sean Aguilar | June 1, 2007 8:20 AM
Posted on June 1, 2007 08:20