Introduction
Ian Paul claims, “…Shelter should be considered as a process, not an object”. The project “Shelter me too” rethinks emergency shelters from just a cover over the head to a key to progressive recovery. Particularly after a disaster, victims seek not just a design that is of physical refuge. The consideration of emotions, cultures, values, memories and even ambitions come into play. Emergency shelters thus play an important role in assisting a victim to process thoughts and plans during a transitional time.
Helping victims to feel understood and giving them sufficient grounds of familiarity will help them in the process of getting back to their normal lives. The image “Pilot image” is a metaphor of a fish and a frog. It represents the notion of a fish being out of the water and not being understood by the frog. The frog has the best intentions, but sometimes, having the best of intentions is not enough or can even be detrimental.
Proposal
I chose Laos and floods as my case.
Modules are handmade by the villagers, flat-packed and stored under their stilt houses. The traditional craft and materials that they use help reflect their culture and values. This method also allows the family to personalize their shelter, thus allowing them to have a level of psychological comfort while being away from their own land.
The proposal is to work with emergency managers, in this case, the Mekong River Commission (MRC). MRC would then do the coordination with UNICEF – who will provide the construction and location of the basic emergency site. The design of the emergency shelter then employs the culture, traditional skills, local materials and production; thus encouraging the locals to be independent and eco-friendly.
The video taken by me reflects the lifestyle, activities and culture of the people.