Disasters are one thing you can count on.
This development is occupied by a mixture of permanent residents and temporary individuals displaced by disasters. Permanent residents investing in this community open their homes to individuals and families evacuated because of property damage.
We want to provide stability through a permanent residential development model that embeds displaced individuals within an existing community framework. Given the frequency of disasters, there is a constant need.
Every year, disasters across the United States destroy homes and businesses. Sometimes we are prepared and first response teams perform search and rescue and attend to basic human needs. At other times they strike unexpectedly in major earth shattering magnitudes, and long-term recovery programs are required to help rebuild cities and lives.
disasters from 1953-present
According to the Living Building Challenge we planned a development with low density housing and higher density commercial to achieve a FAR of 2.4. which is consistent with the neighborhoods surrounding the Reliant complex.
To augment FEMA’s regional site offices,
“Federal funding is available to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population...FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency.” -fema.gov
2008:
2009:
2010:
RELIANT STADIUM
CAPITAL METRO RAIL
FUTURE DEVELOPMENT
DISASTRODOME
92
major disaster declarations 12/18 - New York, Severe Winter Storm 12/15 - Maine, Severe Winter Storm 12/13 - New Hampshire, Severe Winter Storm 12/13 - Massachusetts, Severe Winter Storm 09/11 - Louisiana, Hurricane Ike 09/10 - Texas, Hurricane Ike 09/07 - Florida, Hurricane Ike 08/30 - Alabama, Hurricane Gustav 08/30 - Mississippi, Hurricane Gustav 08/21 - Florida, Tropical Storm Fay 06/28 - California, Wildfires 04/24 - Ohio, Severe Winter Storm 03/19 - Wisconsin, Severe Winter Storm 03/14 - Texas, Wildfires 03/13 - Illinois, Severe Winter Storm
64
major disaster declarations 10/24 - Puerto Rico, Explosions and Fire 06/23 - Oklahoma, Severe Winter Storm 03/26 - Minnesota, Severe Storms/Flooding 01/40 - Missouri, Severe Winter Storm 01/28 - Kentucky, Severe Winter Storm 01/28 - Arkansas, Severe Winter Storm
47
disasters have been declared 05/03 - Massachusetts, Water Main Break 03/31 - Rhode Island, Severe Storms/Flooding 03/19 - Minnesota, Flooding 03/14 - North Dakota, Flooding 01/30 - Oklahoma, Severe Winter Storm 01/24 - Arizona, Severe Winter Storm
Disastrodome
RESIDENTIAL
FUTURE DEVELOPMENT
people evacuated from major disasters.
The tenant/owner dwellings are joined by communal kitchen spaces which become the heart of the home and community.
N
MED CENTER
we are proposing permanent national Disaster Relief Developments based in major cities that will absorb influxes of
Each parcel of land is occupied by 2 tenant/owner units which can accommodate up to 4 families.
RELIANT ARENA
FUTURE DEVELOPMENT
Houston would be an ideal location for a Disaster Relief Development due to it’s
0˚ ASTROWORLD
accessibility along interstate highways from disaster prone areas in southern Louisiana and the Texas coast.
The Astrodome, renamed the , would be our coordination and routing center. As people arrive, their immediate needs are addressed, information is gathered, and families are reunited.
By flipping shotgun and dogtrot layouts, homes are always oriented to the SE capitalizing on prevailing breezes.
90˚
L1
L2
L3
Because of the severity of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the complexity of rebuilding, the temporary housing program lasted far longer than anyone anticipated. At the beginning of May, FEMA notified trailer residents that they had until the end of the month to vacate or legal action would be taken against them...Tens of thousands of other families moved into apartments that were paid for by the agency. There were also vouchers for the eligible among those families, but thousands have gone unused because of a bottleneck at the housing authorities that are supposed to be processing them. That program, which currently houses more than 16,000 families, was extended until Aug. 31. -Shaila Dewan, “Katrina Victims Will Not Have to Vacate Trailers�, nytimes.com, June 3, 2009
Each building is composed of 2 shotguns and 2 dogtrots.
-Solar PV panels -Intensive roof gardens -Rain water collection -High SRI roof membranes
As individuals and families are evacuated, instead of relocating to a hotel or trailer, for up to 18 months they will be integrated into regional disaster relief developments where medical, social, financial aid and counseling are available to help people grieve, recover, complete repairs or find new permanent housing.
Aggregation on the site generates a SHAR ED U PPER DECK
variety of infill public spaces.
-Permeable metal sun screens -Operable glass and metal panels for venthilation -Flexible floor plans
SHAR ED FR ONT YARD
SHAR ED D ECK
COM MUN AL GA RDEN
VIS-A -VIS
As units populate the site, neighboring units join yards, gardens, and green roofs, creating a larger interwoven social network that can be walked from one edge of the site to the other.
The buildings are dense enough they provide each other with shade!
By leaving some parcels undeveloped, the Disaster Relief Development plays host to a secondary scale of diverse community spaces such as schools, religious facilities, and community centers. -Pedestrian friendly roads -Permeable paving -Indigenous landscaping -Storm water detention
Disasters happen all the time, and these developments anticipate that.
-FSC certified wood decking -Permeable pavers -Indigenous landscaping