Sjoerd Nienhuys
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Re:Temporary Housing - 2007/06/17 19:09
The Sphere document gives good recommendations on size varying around 24 m2, with or without kitchen. The actual size is determined by climate, local authorities and funding. With the large funding of the tsunami some local authorities tried to increase the standard. The size may also be related to the expected duration of stay in the transitional shelter (TS). In cold climates like Kashmir, the kitchen is part of the build-in environment. When people have to stay many years in the TS, they should have the ability to extend the building themselves.
Building method depends on climate, local customs and abvailable building materials. The participation of the local people in constructing or assembling the shelter is in many cases considered very important (psychologically, availability of labour and cost-wise). In several areas (Aceh) durable and light weight pre-fab units were imported. The materials of these units (GI fames and timber) would become property of the occupant for use in its permanent house.
An (inter)national company should provide technical details of its concept, design or quotations to the organisations that actually are going to finance the TS in the designated disaster areas. Rapid delivery, low cost and local assembly are priority issues. Rapid delivery was in the tsunami often dependent on importation rights and bureacracy, as well as local transport and access to the sites. Housing without a sulution for sanitation is not very useful.
Sjoerd Nienhuys
Shelter Advisor
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