Architecture at Risk (?): The Ambivalent Nature of Post-disaster Practice

Abstract

Post-disaster reconstruction regularly materializes politically and institutionally dualistic in a spatial arena where the expediency of required re-building often threatens high standard architectural production and the appropriation of future preventive measures, and in a societal arena where the erosion of community, livelihoods and security potentially trigger social fragmentations. Complexities arise and expand in this profoundly risky process of suggestive transformative aims, as the concepts of housing and architecture compete within various conflicted operational dimensions across diverse situational landscapes. Drawing here from the ontology of Foucault and Lefebvre, a discursive context frames the current challenges and risks facing the production of post-disaster space. Neither meant as a demonstration nor a mere guide to the relevance of their philosophical apparatus, the authors' central argument suggests that an augmented perception of space would help link social and material needs while questioning the set of emblematic elements of architecture's technique and limits. The paper thus ambitiously seeks to offer a provocative lexicon and theoretical lens for addressing the potential of reconstruction as well as questioning the state and role of architecture, perhaps calling for a renewed sense of critically anthropocentric post-disaster practice.

Does the post-disaster resilient city really exist?

“…We argue that housing, beyond its apparent socio-economic importance and its exoskeleton protective value for the human body (Erguden, 2001; Bullard and Wrigth, 2005, cited in Masozera et al , 2007; Gandy, 2005, p. 28 cited in Cook and Swyngedouw, 2012), is also an instrument for action by people, a potential paradigm for change depending on contextual factors, such as the relations between public authorities, civil organizations and developers; the amounts and sources of reconstruction funding; and the ability of people and communities to voice their needs and demands with the aim to rebuild damaged living conditions (Turner, 1978). On the one hand, housing reconstruction presents an opportunity for progress in the functioning of the community, starting from discussing housing alternatives to bringing up the questions of human rights and changes in socio-political relationships (Boano and Hunter, 2012; Johnson, 2011; Satterthwaite, 2011), while, on the other hand, it provides an opportunity for re-triggering processes of wealth accumulation. We argue that the ultimate design of reconstruction policies and the allocation of rights in the reconstruction “experiment” will depend on how the state best accommodates the various housing discourses advocated by various groups who envision development and mobilize actions in radically different ways.…”

Lipase Catalysed Ethanolysis of Jatropha Oil for Biodiesel Production

“…Therefore, during this assessment of sustainable housing, it is clear that the knowledge exists that regions of natural disasters need help to strengthen their architectural designs but that this is not necessarily occurring through low investment. Moreover, it is noted by Boano and Hunter (2012) that in each situation when a disaster occurs, 'Spatially speaking, there are massive needs for physical reconstruction of damaged structures, provision of new housing, and the conservation of heritage buildings that challenge faster responses and open up opportunities for incorporating preventive measures in relation to the occurrence of future disasters ' (2012, p. 1) but that these decisions also rest on the surrounding political and economic arena that often dictates that preventive methods of architecture cannot be used for the rebuilding effort, due to restrictions placed on the community such as a lack of funding. The study by Boano and Hunter is also critical on the role of architects, stating that to be successful, post-disaster housing efforts requires 'a necessary change in the traditional identity and approach of architects, meaning that they need to understand the complexity of the situation and the community at risk ' (2012, p. 10).…”

Post-disaster memoryscapes: Communicating disaster risks and climate change after the Leh flash floods in 2010

“…It must be understood that for displaced people presently living in rehabilitation, the concept of the ‘home’ is severely contested. The ‘home’ acts as a ‘significant type of space and place’ (Boano & Hunter, 2012, p. 4) which is not only a physical structure but also a social, cultural and emotive construct. The process of settling in was very difficult for the displaced people.…”