Scaffold House: An Urban Disaster Transitional Shelter

Scaffold House is a transitional shelter program designed for the projected number of victims of the Magnitude 7.2 movement of the West Valley Fault, a worst-case scenario earthquake model created to prepare for the so-called "Big One." The west valley fault intersects the major cities within the capital region of the Philippines. The country has prepared for the immediate response shelters and some relocation projects for residents in hazardous areas, however, evacuees that require a prolonged temporary stay; and away from the hazards during their physical, mental, and economic recovery from the trauma of a disaster are left out.

That is where Scaffold House comes in. This project is for the residents that require better shelter conditions than tents and open stadium evacuation centers.

With the temporary nature of the project, and having environmental protection as a top priority, the project is requiring a material that is reusable, available in the market to lessen production, easy to assemble and disassemble, flexible in design and measurements, doesn't require extensive site intervention, and very lightweight, therefore concluding to scaffolding.

The project provides a shelter not limited to a house but also other aspects of disaster recovery and rehabilitation such as education, economic, mental and physical health, community engagements, and the overall post-disaster growth of not only the evacuees but every stakeholder as well.