Resilient Community Sustainment Design

Abstract

This D.Arch Project proposes a resilient Hawai‘i community to withstand a natural disaster and to provide for self-sufficiency. The natural disasters that are being address are high winds and hurricane conditions. In most situations when constructing to be resilient, the words, strong, resistant, and invincible come to mind. The investigation begins by identifying natural disasters that are relatable to Hawai‘i’s geography then focuses on hurricane conditions and how we prepare ourselves for this weather condition; building codes, safe rooms, and causes of roof uplift. This leads to the perception of why should we resist the storm by using excessive amount of building material to be resilient and why not allow the storm to enter by using minimal amount of building material to be resilient. The occupant’s safety and personal well-being are the most important factors in this situation. A brief building material analysis is conducted to determine which would be best used for construction against the weather and time. Living in Hawai‘i, the natural environment can improve the occupant’s personal well-being, so why are they living behind enclosed walls to experience this. The bare necessities were explored and implemented, by examining nature, studying Le Corbusier, and critiquing case studies. However, five controversial issues that have risen from living in an open air structure home. Designing resiliency goes beyond the storm and the home. It also involves the physical, sociological, and mental aspects to be prepared for when situations go wrong. Community engagement can supplement the occupant’s personal well-being. In order for the occupant to be comfortable living in the open air structured home, community core values are needed to be established to create a prestigious resilient community lifestyle. Common areas, community activities, and marketing strategies were analyzed to demonstrate how people would be convinced that this lifestyle is applicable. Ancient Hawaiians practiced and shared the same core values when providing for selfsustainment. At the end of this D.Arch Project, a comprehensive concept design was made for this resilient lifestyle, community, and farm home for a new neighborhood near Wahiawā.