URBANISM OF EMERGENCY:
Use and Adaptation of Public Open Spaces in
Disaster-induced Resettlement Sites
Sandra CARRASCO*, David O’Brien
Faculty of Architecture Business and Planning,
University of Melbourne, Australia.
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1. Background
What kind of built-environment do we rebuild after
a major natural disaster?
• Infrastructure: Roads, facilities
lines, communications, schools,
hospitals, etc.
• Communal facilities: Community
centers, etc.
Is this all
that has
been lost?
• Housing: Temporary/Permanent
Complex process with multiple actors involved
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1. Background
Involuntary (Forced) Resettlement:
Loss of
livelihoods
Loss of sense of
community
Poverty
Banned to
retourn
Physical community, Loss of social ties, Networks
Loss of human environment
EMOTIONAL STRESSES AND TRAUMA
Suicides
Isolated death
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1. Background
PLACELESNESS
Physical
Environment
Human
Environment
Attachments
Identities
Social-spatial bonds
Despite that the post-disaster settlements are probably the most planned,
we are still unable to plan HUMAN settlements
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2. Role of open and communal spaces for community recovery:
Individual and
collective
relationships
Sense of Identity,
Community Belonging,
Attachment
COMMON PHYSICAL SPACE
Balance between public and private activities
These spaces provide channels for movement, the
nodes of communication, and the common
grounds for play and relaxation
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3. Research Objective
To analyse how residents of these settlements
adapt the open public spaces in their
neighbourhood and around their homes, and
how this affects their social interaction in an
attempt to improve their living conditions in
the community.
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CASE STUDY 1:
Creation of spaces for interaction in temporary housing in Japan
470,000
displaced
persons
2-6 months were
allocated in temporary
housing
39,032 temporary
shelters, built in
614 complexes
After 6 years
Feb. 2017
120,000 evacuees
40,000 in
Temporary housing
⇒How temporary is “Temporary Housing”?
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CASE STUDY 1:
Creation of spaces for interaction in temporary housing in Japan
Different settlement layouts of temporary housing in Tohoku
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CASE STUDY 1:
Creation of spaces for interaction in temporary housing in Japan
A gazebo built by volunteers for the communal use in a small and remote site
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CASE STUDY 1:
Creation of spaces for interaction in temporary housing in Japan
Indoor communal space in
a large settlement
Spontaneous communal activities in open spaces perform by
residents of temporary housing settlements
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CASE STUDY 1:
Creation of spaces for interaction in temporary housing in Japan
Temporary community initiated public open spaces and
community gardening
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CASE STUDY 2:
Social spaces and “fiestas” in permanent housing in the Philippines
After the 2012 Typhoon
Washi that displaced
228,576 persons in the
city of Cagayan de Oro
In the following 4
months
Affected residents were
resettled between 5 to
20 km away from the
original settlements
Pressure for quick results lead to:
⇒Inappropriate land classification
⇒lack of technical supervision
⇒Inadequate provision of facilities
and communal amenities
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CASE STUDY 2:
Social spaces and “fiestas” in permanent housing in the Philippines
Communal spaces in resettlement sites
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CASE STUDY 2:
Social spaces and “fiestas” in permanent housing in the Philippines
Alternative use of streets as communal meeting areas
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CASE STUDY 2:
Social spaces and “fiestas” in permanent housing in the Philippines
“Fiestas” decoration and use of
open public spaces during local festive events
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CONCLUSIONS
 There is ambiguity in the definition of temporality of settlements.
 The recovery of the physical environment is not limited to housing.
 Socio-cultural connections provide security and inclusion of different
groups in the community.
 Spaces for casual interaction resulted more effective and accessible.
 It is crucial to analyse appropriateness of social spaces and their
flexibility.
 Displaced communities proved to be independent and proactive.
 Social spaces should be considered as mean for recovery, hazard
mitigation, and resilience.
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Thank you very much for your attention.
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