Archinect - Features

Tulane School of Architecture Graduates Reference Haiti's 2010 Earthquake to Address The Importance of Essential Infrastructure Design For Disaster Relief

2021-08-18T09:00:00-04:00

On August 15th, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti. With news still unfolding, at the time of publication, over 1,400 people have been confirmed dead and over 6,000 injured. However, this isn't the first time a massive earthquake destroyed homes and impacted lives within the region. For this iteration of Archinect's Summer 2021 Thesis Review, we connected with B.Arch students Jorge Blandin & Joanne Engelhard. The duo from Tulane School of Architecture used their thesis project "A Developing Framework - Rethinking the Displacement Housing Crisis in Developing Countries" to explore how to approach essential infrastructure and affordable housing after a natural disaster like the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

Blandin and Engelhard's thesis project question the excessiveness within architecture and the disparity between accessible and functional architecture that also fosters community development and equity. The duo explains, "The 2010 earthquake in Haiti damaged and destroyed 295,000...

Screen Print #49: "Bracket" ponders how architecture should respond in extreme times

2017-01-31T12:11:00-05:00

How can design be productive in chaotic times? In its latest release "At Extremes," the journal Bracket examines the role of architecture in a world in which "extreme" is constantly being redefined.

How Architects Can Help Nepal (And Learn From Past Disastrous Mistakes/Successes)

2015-04-30T18:20:00-04:00

April 25th’s 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Nepal has razed entire villages, severely disrupted basic infrastructure, and is responsible for the loss of over 5,000 lives. According to The Guardian, the death toll may rise to as many 10,000 people. Unfortunately, in the wake of natural disasters, the architectural community has traditionally waited out the initial emergency phase before lending aid. The embarrassing response to 2005’s Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, in which thousands of refugees sweltered in the Superdome for days without ready access to running water, prompted organizations including the AIA to revamp their emergency-response guidelines. Now, architects are encouraged to immediately respond to a disaster.