On October 8th a 7.6 magnitude earthquake rocked the region near Kashmir, less than 65 miles from Islamabad, Pakistan. The death toll stands at over 87,000+, with another 80,000 injured. An estimated 3.3 million have lost their homes.
The real need is not only in relief and recovery but the transitional and long term shelter needs of those displaced – shelter that must be earthquake resistant for the future. Many more will die due to inadequate protection in the coming months and a second tragedy is unfolding. The international reconstruction, engineering and design community needs to respond.
Given the scale of this disaster Architecture for Humanity has launched a call for ideas for pictorial (cartoon) diagrams of earthquake resistant housing for a manual that will help empower communities on the long-term reconstruction effort. A criteria and brief was developed by Arup engineers alongside a number of regionally based architects, engineers and government officials. The AIGA and Architecture for Humanity will take the best refined ideas and help to assemble a manual for distribution throughout the affected regions. There is no cost to enter and is open for anyone. Schemes are due by January 20th 2006.
Use the following links for project description, background information and criteria, and entry requirements.
