PIECE IT TOGETHER : Rebuildable Homes for Post-Disaster Resilience

Abstract

In an era marked by intensifying natural disasters, no one is immune to the risks of displacement and loss. Climate change is exacerbating extreme weather events, leading to more frequent and intense disasters that affect millions globally, with an average of 25.3 million displacements per year from sudden-onset disasters alone. While government-led disaster recovery efforts aim to restore stability, they often rely on short-term shelter solutions that leave individuals with little control over their futures. These shelters, intended as temporary, frequently become long-term residences, as seen in Haiti and Florida, where FEMA housing remained in use for over a decade. As the climate crisis increases the frequency of such events, the question is no longer if, but when, and what happens next.

This thesis addresses the critical challenge of how to transition from shelter to home. It responds to two core problems: the disposability of temporary housing and the disempowerment of those who live in them. The research proposes self-build, incrementally adaptable housing systems that give displaced individuals agency over their environments. These structures can be assembled in emergency conditions and later deconstructed to support the rebuilding of permanent homes - turning what was once a temporary fix into a meaningful foundation for recovery.

By leveraging Design for Disassembly (DfD) principles and flat-pack strategies, the project offers a system that is not only responsive to immediate needs but also materially and socially regenerative. Unlike standard modular pods, which are costly to store or reuse, these homes are designed as kits of parts that evolve with their users. CNC digital fabrication is used not to mass-produce standardized units, but to enable localized, rapidly deployable systems that support self-building and reduce dependency on centralized supply chains. The thesis employs iterative prototyping, drawing on literature review as a theoretical foundation, to develop a timber-based modular housing system suited to North American climates.Applying the design in post disaster scenario of Jasper Wild Fire and Florida Hurricane to evaluate how the prototypes perform under these recovery conditions - assessing adaptability, reusability, and user empowerment across both interim and long-term use phases.

This research reclaims post-disaster housing as a space of autonomy, love, and growth - one where people rebuild not just structures, but lives. In doing so, it legitimizes the nonlinear, personal, and often prolonged process of healing after disaster, proposing a housing framework that is adaptable, enduring, and deeply human.