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The role of temporary accommodation buildings for post-disaster housing reconstruction

  • Policy and Practice
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Abstract

The number of houses damaged or destroyed after disasters is frequently large, and re-housing of homeless people is one of the most important tasks of reconstruction programs. Reconstruction works often last long, and during that time, it is essential to provide victims with the minimum conditions to live with dignity, privacy, and protection. This research intends to demonstrate the crucial role of temporary accommodation buildings to provide spaces where people can live and gradually resume their life until they have a permanent house. The study also aims to identify the main problems of temporary accommodation strategies and to discuss some principles and guidelines in order to reach better design solutions. It is found that temporary accommodation is an issue that goes beyond the simple provision of buildings, since the whole space for temporary settlement is important. Likewise, temporary accommodation is a process that should start before a disaster occurs, as a preventive pre-planning. In spite of being temporary constructions, these housing buildings are one of the most important elements to provide in emergency scenarios, contributing for better recovery and reconstruction actions.

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Acknowledgments

The first author gratefully acknowledges the financial support of Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, FCT, through grant SFRH/BD/73853/2010.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CITAD, University Lusíada of Vila Nova Famalicão, Largo Tinoco de Sousa, 4760-108, Vila Nova Famalicão, Portugal

    Daniel Félix & Artur Feio

  2. University Lusíada of Vila Nova Famalicão, Vila Nova Famalicão, Portugal

    Daniel Monteiro

  3. ISISE, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

    Jorge M. Branco

  4. Department of Architecture, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    Roberto Bologna

Authors
  1. Daniel Félix
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  2. Daniel Monteiro
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  3. Jorge M. Branco
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  4. Roberto Bologna
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  5. Artur Feio
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Correspondence to Daniel Félix.

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Félix, D., Monteiro, D., Branco, J.M. et al. The role of temporary accommodation buildings for post-disaster housing reconstruction. J Hous and the Built Environ 30, 683–699 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10901-014-9431-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10901-014-9431-4

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