1000 Tsunami Safe(r) Houses
A Disaster Recovery Project
Proposed in response to the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster of December 2004, Tsunami safe(r) is a pro-bono design/build effort to create a more tsunami-resistant home design in Sri Lanka. Justin collaborated on the project with the MIT SENSEable City Laboratory and coordinated with Buro Happold on the structural engineering. Traveling to Sri Lanka, he worked with local contractors and craftsmen during the construction period of the first house, developing a built and working prototype to illustrate the design concepts and verify its constructability.
Because it was unlikely that a home made from standard materials would be able to withstand the destruction brought on by a tsunami, Tsunami safe(r) focused on the development of building strategies that would improve recovery rather than resistance. Using the same budget and same building materials as a traditional house but revising the wall layout, the new design achieved stronger walls and roof support and provided increased resistance to lateral forces. This design would ultimately allow for a faster recovery in the aftermath of a tsunami.
Client: Prajnopaya Foundation
Location: Galle, Sri Lanka
Year Completed: 2005
Collaboration: MIT SENSEable City Laboratory
Image Credits: Tsunami Safe(r) House Initiative, Justin Lee