In-Between: T-Shelters for Urban Disaster Victims

Dhaka became the capital of the Mughal eastern province of Bengal 400 years ago. Despite rapid expansion since then and mega-city status, the older part of Dhaka, known as “Old Dhaka,” retains its rich cultural heritage.

Currently, Dhaka is among the top 20 earthquake-prone cities due to its geographical location and rapid, unplanned urbanization. In addition, the densely populated Old Dhaka is highly vulnerable to disasters, particularly earthquakes and fires, due to poor infrastructure and non-compliance with building codes. Numerous structures in Old Dhaka may become uninhabitable following a large-scale catastrophe, necessitating urgent disaster relief (DR) sheltering for affected families. RAJUK (Urban Planning Department of Dhaka) has suggested emergency sheltering for such disaster victims inside undamaged public school buildings and in the government’s parks or playgrounds without providing any specific guidelines for DR sheltering in Dhaka.

Idea of the Project:

This project aims to address this critical gap and develop an efficient T-sheltering (both temporary and transitional sheltering) system after a disaster within an urban open space, such as the Dhupkhola field, for up to two years with essential post-disaster facilities, specifically for the residents of Sutrapur Thana. Sutrapur Thana is a vulnerable part of Old Dhaka, with the second highest population density in the city (approximately 100,000 people per sq km). This sheltering system can be replicated at any public playground or park in Old Dhaka. The government and humanitarian organizations should fund the project. The design ensures the field’s preparedness to provide shelter for people when necessary while also allowing it to resume its original functions as soon as the sheltering period is over. The design also focuses on providing therapeutic spaces for fast recovery, serving as a crucial example for such situations in the future.

Design Considerations:

The proposed modular shelters offer a transformative solution to the lack of research and guidelines for disaster relief sheltering in Old Dhaka. Designed for rapid deployment in urban open spaces, the project addresses the critical need for immediate shelter while promoting community resilience and recovery through thoughtful design. The process involves identifying needs and constraints, developing adaptable shelter prototypes, and using locally available materials while incorporating climatic considerations.

The design integrates Old Dhaka’s unique socio-cultural norms and intangible heritage to ensure the community’s swift recovery. Features include soft-paved paths around shelter clusters and a hierarchy of shared spaces and courtyards connected by walkways inspired by Sutrapur’s existing lanes and interaction zones. These elements preserve the community’s strong emphasis on social interaction, which is vital to their recovery process.

The challenge lies in designing shelters that balance international shelter standards with the need to accommodate a high number of people within the limited 4-acre Dhupkhola field. However, the community’s adaptive living habits and resilience provide an opportunity for effective recovery. By addressing these challenges with sensitivity to functional needs and local dynamics, this project offers hope to affected communities and serves as an inspiration for similar disaster relief initiatives worldwide, demonstrating a scalable and context-sensitive approach to urban disaster sheltering.

It’s a process rather than a product. Multiple different solutions can be found to this potential issue. Although the design is specific to the site and the targeted communities, the research methodology and systematic approach can be applied globally. The project stands out for its goal of enhancing community resilience and its potential to be scaled or adapted to similar urban contexts globally.

Development of Sheltering Site Through Phases:

The shelter site is designed to always be prepared for emergencies, including ramps for ambulances and fire trucks to enter the field. However, these entries should be restricted during normal days. This is called the “Pre-disaster Phase.”

After a major disaster, “Emergency Phase 1” is initiated by installing a temporary medical unit and dividing the site into blocks with 3ft X 3ft grids marked. Then, a central axis road of 15ft in width will be quickly constructed using ready-made concrete blocks. This central road divides the site into four sheltering blocks. The sizes of shelter blocks will vary based on the central gathering field where the temporary multipurpose hall will be installed with GI pipes and tarpaulins. However, each block will have an internal courtyard surrounded by spaces for kitchens to be built later.

In “Emergency Phase 2,” the planned settlement area will be marked and kept empty. Lavatories will be installed in the designated communal lavatory places. In “Emergency Phase 3,” the available spots on the field will be used for temporary shelters (tents). As soon as all the materials for transitional shelters are gathered, the volunteers and authorities will start assembling the designed shelters. Those who are fit within the community can also participate. Later, after the affected people start living in the transitional shelters, other facilities such as a kitchen, office, cluster storage, Bin, Rainwater harvesting system, etc., can be incorporated.

The temporary multipurpose hall can be converted to any shape within a few hours, according to its needs.

Design Brief:

The clustering system meets most of SPHERE’s and UNHCR’s health, sanitation, WASH facilities, and sheltering standards, serving as a suitable solution for many densely populated areas after a disaster.

Since Dhupkhola is a football field, only seasonal vegetables, potted plants, shrubs, etc., will be allowed in designated locations such as in the introvert courtyard or beside the pedestrian soft-pave. Kitchen gardening is also encouraged here. The master plan exhibits a hierarchy of gathering or community spaces. The ROWAK (porch), which acts as the foyer, can also function as the smallest gathering space of a shelter. It leads to the introverted courtyards of a single shelter of 5 units (can be 4 or 6, depending on demand), the smallest green space. Then, it is connected to the common green space or courtyard surrounded by the kitchens of 2 or 4 clusters. his kitchen-surrounded courtyard or playspace is specifically designed for young children to be under the observation of their parents, especially mothers, when they play.

A generative design algorithm is used with some sheltering requirements as parameters and constraints to generate multiple clustering arrangement options with two major types of shelters (including their 90° rotated orientations and mirror reflection orientations). After numerous trails, the resulting optimized clustering system prioritizes daylight, cross ventilation, and semi-private courtyards for each shelter, with the minimum circulation to service areas (kitchen, toilet). Efficient use of interior space is emphasized to avoid wastage, and the shelters’ facades are designed with sliding window panels to minimize the space required for window operation.

The design encompasses flexible and adaptable living spaces focusing on privacy, security, community, and sustainability over a two-year design life. It proposes Class D, E, or schedule 80 industrial grade uPVC pipe structures, readily available in the local market, along with Jutin (jute composite corrugated sheet), bamboo mat facade, and fiber cement board floor. The base structure under the floor can be made of GI pipe scaffolding for variable live loads.

Vertical gardening is integrated into the shelters, particularly around the kitchens’ facades. Smaller diameter uPVC pipes are used as the structural frame for vertical plantations or aquaponics.
As the men of Old Dhaka are used to bathing in open spaces or the pond, there will be open showers and a cloth-washing area beside the lavatory. Each shelter, kitchen, and lavatory is equipped with a rainwater collecting tank by local company GAZI. Wudu sinks, or footbaths, are installed in the lavatory.

Disaster Responses:
The current site design will undergo slight modifications to facilitate vehicle access to the field when required. The existing concrete way on the four sides of the field will be connected with a concrete-block emergency vehicular road, which will carry shelter materials during installation and an ambulance if needed.