Think outside the box. Towards new transient morphologies: The case of post - emergency housing

Abstract

This paper explores the theme of the early recovery following catastrophic seismic phenomena in relation to the reconstruction, this in order to demonstrate the possible role of architectural design and urban morphology. Particularly, the study focuses on housing provision, for which the Civil Protection Department is responsible in Italy. Following a comparative analysis of international case studies, Italian case studies and settlements built during both earthquakes of 2009 (L’Aquila) and 2016 (Central Italy), the advanced proposal of an ‘open, open-source, minor and time-varying processual project’ is the theoretical background on which the developed design prototype is rooted. The architectural design is here intended, on the one hand, as enabler for transient urban forms and, on the other, as a research tool within a simulation phase developed to highlight the need for a time-based design. The ‘box effect’ is highlighted as the most sensitive design feature of these housing projects. The relationship between the individual unit and the urban system is brought into focus. To avoid the risk of post-earthquake reconstruction, it is therefore stated as necessary to ‘think outside the box’.