They designed post-earthquake shelters

25 students of Izmir University of Economics (IUE) came together in a 5-day workshop to develop alternative projects for shelter areas created after the earthquake. Focusing on creating the best living spaces for earthquake victims, especially in the container city, the students developed ideas that could be implemented quickly and at low cost. Working in groups of four or five, the students emphasized that common living spaces can be increased in container cities, and they prepared designs that include special sections where children can play games and watch movies. At the end of the workshop, IUE Rector Prof. Dr. Murat Aşkar handed certificates to students.

Students of Departments of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design, Architecture, Industrial Design and Civil Engineering attended the workshop titled ‘Post-Earthquake Temporary Housing’ carried out by IUE Faculty of Fine Arts and Design.

FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS

In their project, IUE students, who set out from the idea that the survivors in the containers should live in the best conditions, social communication should not be interrupted, and that people should meet their own needs in solidarity with the neighborhood, transferred all these to their design. Emphasizing that common living spaces can be increased in container cities, the students suggested the establishment of special units where children can play games and watch movies.

LIGHTWEIGHT AND PREFABRICATED UNITS

The students, who also thought that the earthquake victims should be able to cook their own meals and wash their clothes if they wanted, focused on the fact that this could also be provided in their living spaces. The students, who also prepared suggestions for the establishment of shelter areas as soon as possible after a possible earthquake, stated that as an alternative to standard containers, light and prefabricated units that can be assembled simply by combining can be used.

EMPHASIS ON SOLIDARITY AND TOGETHERNESS

Stating that they carried out the workshop in order to contribute to the work done for the earthquake victims, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emre Ergül, Head of IUE Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design, said, “We went through a disaster that devastated us all and caused great sadness. Everyone focused on helping earthquake victims from day one. Together with our students, we thought about how we could contribute to the work that can be done in the coming period, and we held the workshop where we witnessed the emergence of highly qualified ideas. Our aim here was to provide intellectual support to the work of authorities and related institutions. Students focused on the idea of ​​how common living spaces should be constructed.”

THERE ARE THOSE LIVING FOR LONGER PERIODS

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ergül continued as follows: “Citizens affected by the earthquake can live in container cities for a long time. It is very important for the victims to communicate with each other so that the feelings of helplessness, pain, anxiety and loneliness do not deepen. Creating quality social spaces is the first step to this. It is possible to develop alternative suggestions to existing applications. For example, earthquake survivors may want a life that where they cook their own food and continue their daily work instead of being in a passive position that receives food service every day and requires care. In this way, they can feel better. We can achieve this with a different settlement setup in container cities. People can support each other in social solidarity by talking and sharing. These issues must also be taken into account in shelter areas. More emphasis can be given to a communal event or dining area, small sub-spaces such as streets and passages, and private, semi-private and public spaces such as open, semi-open sections with seating units. Students came up with ideas for all these.”