A Practical Approach to Temporary Housing for Disaster Victims
A Practical Approach to Temporary Housing for Disaster Victims
Iwasa, Akihiko; Hasegawa, Takashi; Shinkai, Shunichi; Shinozaki, Masahiko; Yasutake, Atsuko; Kobayashi, Kenichi
2012-05-01 00:00:00
The purpose of this study is to reveal the residential environment of temporary housing for disaster victims and propose supporting measures, taking a practical approach to temporary housing for victims of two disasters, the 7.13 flood and the Chuetsu earthquake, both of which occurred in 2004 in Chuetsu, the middle area of Niigata Prefecture in Japan. By means of on-site investigation and a "temporary open café" project providing practical support for residents in temporary housing, this study arrived at the following conclusions. (1) Knowledge of how to improve temporary residential units was shared with neighbors, but it was not spread among the temporary sites. (2) The communities in temporary housing were based on former neighborhood communities. It was useful that people who used to be neighbors were housed at the same temporary site and a common room was built at each temporary site. (3) The community in temporary housing was exclusive. However, in the second stage of recovery, the temporary cafés became useful as places where residents could escape the bonds of these communities. (4) During the one and half years after the earthquake, special places providing opportunities for communication and refreshment were produced by residents in the temporary sites. Keywords: temporary housing for disasters; residential environments; practical study; self-improvement of residential units 1. Introduction conditions for recovery can be provided. 1.1 Background However, temporary housing does not meet the In 2004, the Chuetsu region in the middle area of needs of victims perfectly, because it is designed to Niigata Prefecture in Japan was struck by two disasters, provide the bare minimum of residential space quickly namely, the 7.13 flood and the Chuetsu earthquake in any place struck by unexpected disaster. (Table 1.). These two disasters destroyed or partially Table 1. 7.13 Flood and Chuetsu Earthquake destroyed 126,000 houses. Consequently, 71 temporary 7.13 Chuetsu sites were developed and 3,860 temporary residential Flood Earthquake units were built on these sites (Fig.1.). Date 2004.7.13 2004.10.23 The temporary housing was intended to be in place Deaths 15 51 1) for only two years . During this period, the victims Injured people 3 4,795 underwent an important environmental transition Housing damage while recovering from the mental and physical damage Totally destroyed 70 3,185 caused by the disasters. It is important to manage such Large scale collapse - 2,159 Half collapse 5,354 11,566 a residential environment properly so that suitable Partial damage 94 103,500 Flooded houses *Contact Author: Akihiko Iwasa, Associate Professor, Up to the floorboards 2,178 - Faculty of Engineering, Niigata University, Above the floorboards 6,117 - 8050 Ikarashi 2 no cho, Nishi-ku, Niigata, 950-2181 Japan Temporary housing Tel: +81-25-262-7287 Fax: +81-25-262-7547 Sites 3 63 E-mail: iwasa@eng.niigata-u.ac.jp Residential units 400 3,460 ( Received April 17, 2011 ; accepted January 23, 2012 ) Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering/May 2012/38 33 Therefore, in order to build an efficient residential b) Self-improvement in wind-breaking porches environment for recovery, it is important that residents (2) Approach to using the temporary open cafés: improve their temporary residential setting themselves. The temporary open cafés were established at six sites in order to provide practical support for the residents. In addition to acting as a refreshment space with tea service, the cafés were also a useful place to conduct interviews with residents, and provided an information and communication space in which useful information for residents was circulated. Nine open cafés were established at six temporary sites in 2005, and seven times at the temporary site Fig.1. Temporary Housing Yokodai in 2006. The following information was 1.2 Purpose provided in the information space. The purpose of this study is as follows. a) In 2005, details about how to improve the (1) To propose supporting measures for residents temporary units in temporary housing using a practical approach b) In 2006, special spaces funded and developed by involving a "temporary open café" project. residents of the temporary sites ( 2) To e x a m i n e t he na t ur e o f a r e si d e nt i a l environment consisting of temporary housing from the 3. Overview of Temporary Housing in Chuetsu following three aspects: The temporary housing consisted of residential a) Self-improvement of temporary housing by units in linear figures. There were three types of units residents (1K, 2DK, and 3DK), all with separate toilets and b) Community building by residents within the bathrooms (Fig.2.). Depending on the number of temporary housing sites family members, refugees are generally provided with c) Other forms of progress in the residential this type of residential unit. environments over one and a half years 1.3 Past Studies In a previous study of temporary housing, Maki (1995) studied the actual physical condition of the housing and pointed out that problems existed stemming from outdated regulations, and stressed the importance of temporary housing being considered as part of the reconstruction process after a natural disaster. Regarding the quality of life in temporary housing, Miura (1996) studied personalization in Fig.2. Residential-Unit Types residential space from the perspective of critical environmental transition and revealed the important 4. Self-Improvement of Temporary Residential Unit role of commitment to a temporary residential space by Residents by residents in transition. These studies pointed out In order for an overview of the resi dent ial the importance of the residential environment in e n v i r o n m e n t o f t h e t e m p o r a r y h ou si n g t o b e the process of recovering from mental and physical established, 44 temporary sites (each consisting damage. In order to manage such a residential of more than 20 temporary residential units) were environment properly, so that suitable conditions for examined for factors of self-improvement (Fig.3.). recovery can be provided, this study focuses on self- improvement of the space carried out by the residents themselves. This is an original contribution of this study. 2. Method This study employed the following two research methods: (1) Onsite investigations at 44 temporary sites: In 2005, 44 temporary sites (each consisting of more than 20 temporary residential units) were examined for self- improvements, as detailed below. a) Exterior elements attached to the facades of the Fig.3. Details of Onsite Investigations residential units 34 JAABE vol.11 no.1 May 2012 Akihiko Iwasa 4.1 Exterior Elements Attached to the Facades of Temporary Residential Units Temporary residential units were covered with exterior elements such as plants, sunshades, screens, and storage facilities. The activities involved in establishing such improvements were carried out by the residents themselves (Fig.4.). The temporary sites differed according to the amount of surface area covered with exterior elements (Fig.5.). At three particular temporary sites, the amount of surface covered was over 40%. At another site, less than 10% was covered. Fig.7. Self-Improvement of Wind-Breaking Porches sites, more than 80% of the wind-breaking porches Fig.4. Exterior Elements were improved by residents. However, less than 20% were improved at five other temporary sites (Fig.8.). Thus, differences among temporary sites were found in terms of number of self-improved wind-breaking porches, as well as the added exterior elements. Fig.5. Histogram of Ratio of Exterior Elements 4.2 Wind-Breaking Porches A wind-breaking porch is a space established at the front of an entrance to prevent wind and snow from entering during the winter. This is a popular facility Fig.8. Histogram of Ratio of Self-Improvement of Wind-Breaking Porches in cold areas of Japan such as Chuetsu, and every temporary residential unit in Chuetsu had one (Fig.6.). In every case of improvement, a front panel had been However, many of these wind-breaking porches proved attached to the side panel that had been set up when the unsuitable for the weather conditions of the Chuetsu temporary units were initially provided. Some panels area. As a result, they were improved by the residents had sliding doors and others had swing doors. This (Fig.7.). survey classifies the wind-breaking porches into nine types according to the configuration of the front panel attached by residents, as shown in Fig.9. Fig.9. Nine Types of Front Panel Attached by Residents The distribution of the nine types of porch in the Fig.6. Wind-Breaking Porch three sites that were located nearby was analyzed (Fig.10.). In every group of three temporary sites, the In the course of this survey, it was found that 58% of major type of porch used was different. Thus, a clear temporary residential units had wind-breaking porches relationship between the temporary sites was not found that were improved by residents. At nine temporary JAABE vol.11 no.1 May 2012 Akihiko Iwasa 35 for self-improvement to other temporary sites. This free exchange of information enabled all residents to gain practical knowledge, and this knowledge gradually spread to other temporary sites (Fig.12.). In the process of the exchange, it was important for the coordinator to omit illegal or misleading information about self-improvements. Fig.10. Distribution of the Nine Types of Front Panel in the Three Temporary Sites in terms of the improvements being carried out there by the residents. 4.3 Knowledge of Self-Improvement According to interviews with the residents, many people made improvements similar to those of their neighbors. This suggests that neighbors shared their knowledge of how to make improvements. However, as shown in 4.1 and 4.2, this knowledge tended to be shared only within small areas and had not spread widely to other temporary sites. 5. Practical Support For the purposes of this study, a "temporary open café" project was conducted to provide practical support to residents of temporary housing (Fig.11.). The primary aim of this was to provide a space where refreshments could be served and informal interviews could be conducted. Second, bearing in mind the conclusions of a previous survey showing that the knowledge of how to make improvements was spread Fig.11. Temporary Open Café (2005) only within closed areas by neighbors, the purpose of this project was to circulate this knowledge around all the temporary sites by facilitating communication in the "information space" of the temporary open café. The temporary open cafés were set up nine times at six temporary sites, between which conditions of self-improvement differed. The cafés consisted of a series of small tents with stackable boxes that were used for chairs and tables. All necessary materials were delivered by car, so that the process could be independent of the sites' established infrastructure and facilities. Fig.12. Information Space (2005) The cafés were set up in open spaces and were open to residents from any of the temporary sites. Free 6. Establishing Communities coffee and tea were served, and residents could chat Details of the condition of the communities in with each other. Some informal interviews were also temporary housing were revealed by interviewing the carried out. residents. In addition to the tea and coffee service, the After the 1995 Hanshin–Awaji earthquake, some cafés provided an information space in which residents were isolated from temporary housing information about how to improve the temporary communities. There were 120 cases of "solitary death" units was displayed. New information offered by where the residents had died alone in their units and various residents was added in successive cafés. The were only found a few days later. information space delivered much knowledge necessary 36 JAABE vol.11 no.1 May 2012 Akihiko Iwasa In order to avoid similar isolation at these temporary sites, the following two countermeasures were conducted after the Chuetsu earthquake: (1) People who lived in the same neighborhood before the earthquake were housed in the same temporary site in order to maintain existing human networks. (2) A common room was built at each temporary site, consisting of more than 50 temporary residential units. According to interviews with residents, the communities formed at the temporary sites were based on the former neighborhoods and the common rooms that the residents were attached to. The countermeasures were effective. In the case of the Chuetsu earthquake, there were no solitary deaths for three years. On the down side, because residents lived in small temporary sites that were separate from other Fig.13. Special Places "regional areas," there was a tendency for communities In the information space, a large model of the Yokodai to become too tight and exclusive. Some residents temporary site was displayed, on which the locations felt that this became oppressive. While it is crucial of the special places were indicated using small flags to maintain communication among residents in the (Fig.15.). Residents could add new information about primary stage of a disaster, at the next stage it is also particular special places. Through the free exchange important to provide a place where residents can of information, knowledge of the special places could escape the bonds of the temporary housing community. then be shared among the residents. The space offered by temporary open cafés was separate from the existing communities because the cafés were delivered from outside individual temporary sites. The provision of the temporary open cafés was a particularly effective measure for helping those in temporary housing during the second stage of recovery. 7. Progress in Residential Environments In order to measure the progress made in the residential environments in temporary housing, interviews were conducted with the residents after one and a half years of the Chuetsu earthquake. Fig.14. Temporary Open Café (2006) 7.1 Special Spaces in Temporary Sites The interviews revealed that many residents had "special places" in their temporary sites, which included the following (Fig.13.): • Small "farm" in a vacant space in a residential unit • Bench space on a street corner • Quiet space separated from the temporary site • Viewpoint with beautiful scenery • Place with a favorite dog Fig.15. Information Space (2006) • Friends' units open to other residents • Unique improved units 8. Conclusions Every special place was found or developed by This study reached the following conclusions: residents. Further, the residents could benefit from the (1) The knowledge to improve the temporary opportunity for communication and refreshment. The residential units was initially shared only with special places played an important role in the daily life neighbors and was not spread across the temporary of residents. sites. 7.2 Practical Support (2) The "temporary open café" project conducted In 2006, the temporary open café was held seven for this study provided practical support to residents times at a temporary site — Yokodai — providing an of temporary housing and enabled useful information information space about the special places (Fig.14.). JAABE vol.11 no.1 May 2012 Akihiko Iwasa 37 4) MIURA K., IWAISAKO H., KOBAYASHI M. (1998) to be shared between all the temporary sites. Informal SURVIVORS' PERSONALIZATION IN PRIVATE SPACE OF interviews were also conducted at the cafés. RESTORATION HOUSINGS CONSTRUCTED AFTER THE (3) The communities in the temporary housing were HOKKAIDO SOUTH-WEST OFF EARTHQUAKE: natural based on former neighborhood communities. This was disaster and environmental transition Part II, Architectural Institute of Japan, No.510, pp.109-13316. efficient, because people who used to be neighbors 5) Moon J., Lee S. (2007) A Study on the Planning Method of were housed at the same temporary site. A common Temporary Residences for Refugees Following a Disaster - room was built at each temporary site. Focused on Korean Temporary Residences -, Journal of Asian (4) The communities in the temporary housing were architecture and building engineering, No.6 (2), pp.251-258, 2007- initially quite separate and exclusive. However, during 11-15. the second stage of recovery, the temporary open cafés became useful for providing a space in which residents could escape the bonds of their immediate temporary communities. (5) Over the one and half years after the earthquake, special places providing opportunities for communication and refreshment in the temporary sites were produced by residents. Those who attended the temporary open cafés tried to share information about these special places with other residents. In this study, it is confirmed that commitment to a residential environment by its residents, such as, for example, self-improvement and the identification of "special places," are important factors in the process of recovering from the mental and physical damage caused by disasters. Through the practical approach used in the temporary open café project, it is found that fostering commitment to the temporary residential environment by residents was needed to maximize the effectiveness of temporary housing. It is expected that programs to foster commitment to residential environment should be included in the support process for temporary housing for disaster victims. Note 1) The term of the temporary housing was extended for one year on October 1, 2006. Acknowledgements This study was supported by the Housing Research Foundation for Grant-in-aid for residential research, "Study on Support of Residential Environment in Temporary Housing" from 2005 to 2006. References 1) Hasegawa, T., Iwasa, A., Shinkai, S., Shinozaki, M., Yasutake, A., Kobayashi, K., and Miyakoshi, A. (2007) RESEARCH AND SUPPORT OF TEMPORARY HOUSING OF DISASTER: A practical study by ‘Temporary Café', Journal of Architecture and Planning, Architectural Institute of Japan, No.662, pp.9-16. 2) Maki , N., Miura, K., Kobayashi, M. (1995) ACTUAL CONDITION AND ISSUES FROM PHYSICAL ASPECT ON TEMPORARY HOUSING: Natural disaster and housing, Part I, Journal of architecture and planning, Architectural Institute of Japan, No.476, pp.125-133. 3) Miura, K., Maki, N., Kobayashi, M. (1996) RELOCATION TO RESTORATION HOUSING DUE TO THE ERUPTION OF Mt. UNZEN-FUGENDAKE: Natural disaster and environmental Transition, Part I, Journal of architecture and planning, Architectural Institute of Japan, No.485, pp.87-96. 38 JAABE vol.11 no.1 May 2012 Akihiko Iwasa
http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.pngJournal of Asian Architecture and Building EngineeringTaylor & Francishttp://www.deepdyve.com/lp/taylor-francis/a-practical-approach-to-temporary-housing-for-disaster-victims-1mhefzW3Z1
A Practical Approach to Temporary Housing for Disaster Victims
A Practical Approach to Temporary Housing for Disaster Victims
Abstract
AbstractThe purpose of this study is to reveal the residential environment of temporary housing for disaster victims and propose supporting measures, taking a practical approach to temporary housing for victims of two disasters, the 7.13 flood and the Chuetsu earthquake, both of which occurred in 2004 in Chuetsu, the middle area of Niigata Prefecture in Japan. By means of on-site investigation and a "temporary open café" project providing practical support for residents in...
The purpose of this study is to reveal the residential environment of temporary housing for disaster victims and propose supporting measures, taking a practical approach to temporary housing for victims of two disasters, the 7.13 flood and the Chuetsu earthquake, both of which occurred in 2004 in Chuetsu, the middle area of Niigata Prefecture in Japan. By means of on-site investigation and a "temporary open café" project providing practical support for residents in temporary housing, this study arrived at the following conclusions. (1) Knowledge of how to improve temporary residential units was shared with neighbors, but it was not spread among the temporary sites. (2) The communities in temporary housing were based on former neighborhood communities. It was useful that people who used to be neighbors were housed at the same temporary site and a common room was built at each temporary site. (3) The community in temporary housing was exclusive. However, in the second stage of recovery, the temporary cafés became useful as places where residents could escape the bonds of these communities. (4) During the one and half years after the earthquake, special places providing opportunities for communication and refreshment were produced by residents in the temporary sites. Keywords: temporary housing for disasters; residential environments; practical study; self-improvement of residential units 1. Introduction conditions for recovery can be provided. 1.1 Background However, temporary housing does not meet the In 2004, the Chuetsu region in the middle area of needs of victims perfectly, because it is designed to Niigata Prefecture in Japan was struck by two disasters, provide the bare minimum of residential space quickly namely, the 7.13 flood and the Chuetsu earthquake in any place struck by unexpected disaster. (Table 1.). These two disasters destroyed or partially Table 1. 7.13 Flood and Chuetsu Earthquake destroyed 126,000 houses. Consequently, 71 temporary 7.13 Chuetsu sites were developed and 3,860 temporary residential Flood Earthquake units were built on these sites (Fig.1.). Date 2004.7.13 2004.10.23 The temporary housing was intended to be in place Deaths 15 51 1) for only two years . During this period, the victims Injured people 3 4,795 underwent an important environmental transition Housing damage while recovering from the mental and physical damage Totally destroyed 70 3,185 caused by the disasters. It is important to manage such Large scale collapse - 2,159 Half collapse 5,354 11,566 a residential environment properly so that suitable Partial damage 94 103,500 Flooded houses *Contact Author: Akihiko Iwasa, Associate Professor, Up to the floorboards 2,178 - Faculty of Engineering, Niigata University, Above the floorboards 6,117 - 8050 Ikarashi 2 no cho, Nishi-ku, Niigata, 950-2181 Japan Temporary housing Tel: +81-25-262-7287 Fax: +81-25-262-7547 Sites 3 63 E-mail: iwasa@eng.niigata-u.ac.jp Residential units 400 3,460 ( Received April 17, 2011 ; accepted January 23, 2012 ) Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering/May 2012/38 33 Therefore, in order to build an efficient residential b) Self-improvement in wind-breaking porches environment for recovery, it is important that residents (2) Approach to using the temporary open cafés: improve their temporary residential setting themselves. The temporary open cafés were established at six sites in order to provide practical support for the residents. In addition to acting as a refreshment space with tea service, the cafés were also a useful place to conduct interviews with residents, and provided an information and communication space in which useful information for residents was circulated. Nine open cafés were established at six temporary sites in 2005, and seven times at the temporary site Fig.1. Temporary Housing Yokodai in 2006. The following information was 1.2 Purpose provided in the information space. The purpose of this study is as follows. a) In 2005, details about how to improve the (1) To propose supporting measures for residents temporary units in temporary housing using a practical approach b) In 2006, special spaces funded and developed by involving a "temporary open café" project. residents of the temporary sites ( 2) To e x a m i n e t he na t ur e o f a r e si d e nt i a l environment consisting of temporary housing from the 3. Overview of Temporary Housing in Chuetsu following three aspects: The temporary housing consisted of residential a) Self-improvement of temporary housing by units in linear figures. There were three types of units residents (1K, 2DK, and 3DK), all with separate toilets and b) Community building by residents within the bathrooms (Fig.2.). Depending on the number of temporary housing sites family members, refugees are generally provided with c) Other forms of progress in the residential this type of residential unit. environments over one and a half years 1.3 Past Studies In a previous study of temporary housing, Maki (1995) studied the actual physical condition of the housing and pointed out that problems existed stemming from outdated regulations, and stressed the importance of temporary housing being considered as part of the reconstruction process after a natural disaster. Regarding the quality of life in temporary housing, Miura (1996) studied personalization in Fig.2. Residential-Unit Types residential space from the perspective of critical environmental transition and revealed the important 4. Self-Improvement of Temporary Residential Unit role of commitment to a temporary residential space by Residents by residents in transition. These studies pointed out In order for an overview of the resi dent ial the importance of the residential environment in e n v i r o n m e n t o f t h e t e m p o r a r y h ou si n g t o b e the process of recovering from mental and physical established, 44 temporary sites (each consisting damage. In order to manage such a residential of more than 20 temporary residential units) were environment properly, so that suitable conditions for examined for factors of self-improvement (Fig.3.). recovery can be provided, this study focuses on self- improvement of the space carried out by the residents themselves. This is an original contribution of this study. 2. Method This study employed the following two research methods: (1) Onsite investigations at 44 temporary sites: In 2005, 44 temporary sites (each consisting of more than 20 temporary residential units) were examined for self- improvements, as detailed below. a) Exterior elements attached to the facades of the Fig.3. Details of Onsite Investigations residential units 34 JAABE vol.11 no.1 May 2012 Akihiko Iwasa 4.1 Exterior Elements Attached to the Facades of Temporary Residential Units Temporary residential units were covered with exterior elements such as plants, sunshades, screens, and storage facilities. The activities involved in establishing such improvements were carried out by the residents themselves (Fig.4.). The temporary sites differed according to the amount of surface area covered with exterior elements (Fig.5.). At three particular temporary sites, the amount of surface covered was over 40%. At another site, less than 10% was covered. Fig.7. Self-Improvement of Wind-Breaking Porches sites, more than 80% of the wind-breaking porches Fig.4. Exterior Elements were improved by residents. However, less than 20% were improved at five other temporary sites (Fig.8.). Thus, differences among temporary sites were found in terms of number of self-improved wind-breaking porches, as well as the added exterior elements. Fig.5. Histogram of Ratio of Exterior Elements 4.2 Wind-Breaking Porches A wind-breaking porch is a space established at the front of an entrance to prevent wind and snow from entering during the winter. This is a popular facility Fig.8. Histogram of Ratio of Self-Improvement of Wind-Breaking Porches in cold areas of Japan such as Chuetsu, and every temporary residential unit in Chuetsu had one (Fig.6.). In every case of improvement, a front panel had been However, many of these wind-breaking porches proved attached to the side panel that had been set up when the unsuitable for the weather conditions of the Chuetsu temporary units were initially provided. Some panels area. As a result, they were improved by the residents had sliding doors and others had swing doors. This (Fig.7.). survey classifies the wind-breaking porches into nine types according to the configuration of the front panel attached by residents, as shown in Fig.9. Fig.9. Nine Types of Front Panel Attached by Residents The distribution of the nine types of porch in the Fig.6. Wind-Breaking Porch three sites that were located nearby was analyzed (Fig.10.). In every group of three temporary sites, the In the course of this survey, it was found that 58% of major type of porch used was different. Thus, a clear temporary residential units had wind-breaking porches relationship between the temporary sites was not found that were improved by residents. At nine temporary JAABE vol.11 no.1 May 2012 Akihiko Iwasa 35 for self-improvement to other temporary sites. This free exchange of information enabled all residents to gain practical knowledge, and this knowledge gradually spread to other temporary sites (Fig.12.). In the process of the exchange, it was important for the coordinator to omit illegal or misleading information about self-improvements. Fig.10. Distribution of the Nine Types of Front Panel in the Three Temporary Sites in terms of the improvements being carried out there by the residents. 4.3 Knowledge of Self-Improvement According to interviews with the residents, many people made improvements similar to those of their neighbors. This suggests that neighbors shared their knowledge of how to make improvements. However, as shown in 4.1 and 4.2, this knowledge tended to be shared only within small areas and had not spread widely to other temporary sites. 5. Practical Support For the purposes of this study, a "temporary open café" project was conducted to provide practical support to residents of temporary housing (Fig.11.). The primary aim of this was to provide a space where refreshments could be served and informal interviews could be conducted. Second, bearing in mind the conclusions of a previous survey showing that the knowledge of how to make improvements was spread Fig.11. Temporary Open Café (2005) only within closed areas by neighbors, the purpose of this project was to circulate this knowledge around all the temporary sites by facilitating communication in the "information space" of the temporary open café. The temporary open cafés were set up nine times at six temporary sites, between which conditions of self-improvement differed. The cafés consisted of a series of small tents with stackable boxes that were used for chairs and tables. All necessary materials were delivered by car, so that the process could be independent of the sites' established infrastructure and facilities. Fig.12. Information Space (2005) The cafés were set up in open spaces and were open to residents from any of the temporary sites. Free 6. Establishing Communities coffee and tea were served, and residents could chat Details of the condition of the communities in with each other. Some informal interviews were also temporary housing were revealed by interviewing the carried out. residents. In addition to the tea and coffee service, the After the 1995 Hanshin–Awaji earthquake, some cafés provided an information space in which residents were isolated from temporary housing information about how to improve the temporary communities. There were 120 cases of "solitary death" units was displayed. New information offered by where the residents had died alone in their units and various residents was added in successive cafés. The were only found a few days later. information space delivered much knowledge necessary 36 JAABE vol.11 no.1 May 2012 Akihiko Iwasa In order to avoid similar isolation at these temporary sites, the following two countermeasures were conducted after the Chuetsu earthquake: (1) People who lived in the same neighborhood before the earthquake were housed in the same temporary site in order to maintain existing human networks. (2) A common room was built at each temporary site, consisting of more than 50 temporary residential units. According to interviews with residents, the communities formed at the temporary sites were based on the former neighborhoods and the common rooms that the residents were attached to. The countermeasures were effective. In the case of the Chuetsu earthquake, there were no solitary deaths for three years. On the down side, because residents lived in small temporary sites that were separate from other Fig.13. Special Places "regional areas," there was a tendency for communities In the information space, a large model of the Yokodai to become too tight and exclusive. Some residents temporary site was displayed, on which the locations felt that this became oppressive. While it is crucial of the special places were indicated using small flags to maintain communication among residents in the (Fig.15.). Residents could add new information about primary stage of a disaster, at the next stage it is also particular special places. Through the free exchange important to provide a place where residents can of information, knowledge of the special places could escape the bonds of the temporary housing community. then be shared among the residents. The space offered by temporary open cafés was separate from the existing communities because the cafés were delivered from outside individual temporary sites. The provision of the temporary open cafés was a particularly effective measure for helping those in temporary housing during the second stage of recovery. 7. Progress in Residential Environments In order to measure the progress made in the residential environments in temporary housing, interviews were conducted with the residents after one and a half years of the Chuetsu earthquake. Fig.14. Temporary Open Café (2006) 7.1 Special Spaces in Temporary Sites The interviews revealed that many residents had "special places" in their temporary sites, which included the following (Fig.13.): • Small "farm" in a vacant space in a residential unit • Bench space on a street corner • Quiet space separated from the temporary site • Viewpoint with beautiful scenery • Place with a favorite dog Fig.15. Information Space (2006) • Friends' units open to other residents • Unique improved units 8. Conclusions Every special place was found or developed by This study reached the following conclusions: residents. Further, the residents could benefit from the (1) The knowledge to improve the temporary opportunity for communication and refreshment. The residential units was initially shared only with special places played an important role in the daily life neighbors and was not spread across the temporary of residents. sites. 7.2 Practical Support (2) The "temporary open café" project conducted In 2006, the temporary open café was held seven for this study provided practical support to residents times at a temporary site — Yokodai — providing an of temporary housing and enabled useful information information space about the special places (Fig.14.). JAABE vol.11 no.1 May 2012 Akihiko Iwasa 37 4) MIURA K., IWAISAKO H., KOBAYASHI M. (1998) to be shared between all the temporary sites. Informal SURVIVORS' PERSONALIZATION IN PRIVATE SPACE OF interviews were also conducted at the cafés. RESTORATION HOUSINGS CONSTRUCTED AFTER THE (3) The communities in the temporary housing were HOKKAIDO SOUTH-WEST OFF EARTHQUAKE: natural based on former neighborhood communities. This was disaster and environmental transition Part II, Architectural Institute of Japan, No.510, pp.109-13316. efficient, because people who used to be neighbors 5) Moon J., Lee S. (2007) A Study on the Planning Method of were housed at the same temporary site. A common Temporary Residences for Refugees Following a Disaster - room was built at each temporary site. Focused on Korean Temporary Residences -, Journal of Asian (4) The communities in the temporary housing were architecture and building engineering, No.6 (2), pp.251-258, 2007- initially quite separate and exclusive. However, during 11-15. the second stage of recovery, the temporary open cafés became useful for providing a space in which residents could escape the bonds of their immediate temporary communities. (5) Over the one and half years after the earthquake, special places providing opportunities for communication and refreshment in the temporary sites were produced by residents. Those who attended the temporary open cafés tried to share information about these special places with other residents. In this study, it is confirmed that commitment to a residential environment by its residents, such as, for example, self-improvement and the identification of "special places," are important factors in the process of recovering from the mental and physical damage caused by disasters. Through the practical approach used in the temporary open café project, it is found that fostering commitment to the temporary residential environment by residents was needed to maximize the effectiveness of temporary housing. It is expected that programs to foster commitment to residential environment should be included in the support process for temporary housing for disaster victims. Note 1) The term of the temporary housing was extended for one year on October 1, 2006. Acknowledgements This study was supported by the Housing Research Foundation for Grant-in-aid for residential research, "Study on Support of Residential Environment in Temporary Housing" from 2005 to 2006. References 1) Hasegawa, T., Iwasa, A., Shinkai, S., Shinozaki, M., Yasutake, A., Kobayashi, K., and Miyakoshi, A. (2007) RESEARCH AND SUPPORT OF TEMPORARY HOUSING OF DISASTER: A practical study by ‘Temporary Café', Journal of Architecture and Planning, Architectural Institute of Japan, No.662, pp.9-16. 2) Maki , N., Miura, K., Kobayashi, M. (1995) ACTUAL CONDITION AND ISSUES FROM PHYSICAL ASPECT ON TEMPORARY HOUSING: Natural disaster and housing, Part I, Journal of architecture and planning, Architectural Institute of Japan, No.476, pp.125-133. 3) Miura, K., Maki, N., Kobayashi, M. (1996) RELOCATION TO RESTORATION HOUSING DUE TO THE ERUPTION OF Mt. UNZEN-FUGENDAKE: Natural disaster and environmental Transition, Part I, Journal of architecture and planning, Architectural Institute of Japan, No.485, pp.87-96. 38 JAABE vol.11 no.1 May 2012 Akihiko Iwasa
Journal
Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering
– Taylor & Francis
Published: May 1, 2012
Keywords: temporary housing for disasters; residential environments; practical study; self-improvement of residential units
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