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A prototype for a survival shelter in Nepal has been completed as a model for other home built survival shelters.
Made from bamboo and other local materials, including buildings that have been destroyed in the Nepal earthquakes. The project is part of an inspiring architectural relief organisation, Architecture for the Mass.
“One of the major obstacles of disaster relief work in Nepal is the difficulties in transportation across the mountainous country.”
-Architecture for the Mass
So much of the road around Nepal was not paved properly, being too narrow for large cargo trucks carrying important survival resources for the victims of the earthquakes such as tents to shield from the elements.
The tents can be flown around Nepal by cargo planes, but not into the remote villages.
Architecture for the Mass made a statement regarding this issue: “Readily-available temporary housing units from other countries were essentially useless because they cannot be transported into the regions where help is most needed.”
The architects involved in the project, designed a frame structure made from bamboo, that allows the shelters to be made from readily available materials in Nepal. Bamboo is also easy for people to get their hands on and doesn’t cost much either.
The design of the survival shelters and the construction plans are easy. Workers without any previous construction or building experience are able to build one shelter in as little as three days!
The manual, a guide for the construction of the shelters can be shared with communities that have access to the internet. The only barrier to this, is that after some natural disasters some communities internet access may be disrupted or there was no previous internet connection established. Could there be a method to get to remote areas to assist in the construction of the survival shelters? Possibly with helicopters to deliver volunteers.
Once the manual reaches the natural disaster victims, Architecture for the Mass states, “The local could simply follow the manual and assemble the bamboo frames into temporary buildings of various functions, such as shelter, nursery, clinic, community centre, etc. without the help from construction professionals.”
This is a very useful innovation worldwide, especially for those families who have lost absolutely everything, including their homes. They may wish to repurpose and make another temporary shelter from the remains. Providing necessary and effective cover from any harmful weather conditions after a natural disaster.
Architects: Charles Lai and Takehiko Suzuki
Photo credit: Architecture for the Mass
Article and video by: Jean Cave
Bibliography:
- Architecture for the Mass