HOUSING, CRISES, AND CATASTROPHES: GEOGRAPHIES OF INNOVATION AND EXPLOITATION I HOUSING AND ENVIRONMENTAL CATASTROPHES
Project information
submitted by
Mazen Alazazmeh
Co-Authors
Matilde Nanni, Mehmet Burak Yurtcu, Paul Grünler, Shiao-Ying Hsu
Mentors
Jun.-Prof. Dr. Daniela Zupan, Arch. Mazen Alazazmeh
Faculty:
Architecture and Urbanism
Degree programme:
European Urban Studies (english) (Master of Science (M.Sc.))
Type of project presentation
Research project
Semester
Summer semester 2021
Project description
Crises and catastrophes have tremendous effects on different dimensions of housing. They are therefore intriguing lenses to engage with urban transformation. However, the aftermath of crises and catastrophes presents a dichotomy: on the one hand, they can trigger creative coping mechanisms and social innovations, thereby leading to favourable transformations in housing. On the other hand, they create opportunities for exploitation and oppression which in turn challenge housing provision and socio-spatial equality. The seminar’s objective is to tackle this conflicting nature of crises and catastrophes and to investigate the geographies of innovation and exploitation which they entail.
According to Escalares (2007), “earthquakes don’t kill people: collapsing buildings do. While earthquakes may not be preventable, it is possible to prevent the disasters they cause.” Starting from here, we looked at how Italy is coping with earthquake-followed catastrophes. By doing so, we focused on the "soft" factors of disaster prevention and management: consideration of the social network, provision of social and green infrastructure, and citizens’ participation.
In our comic we see the 2009 L'Aquila post-earthquake through the lens of a 10-year-old girl, to bring attention to the lack of care towards these aspects and the questionable governmental management that followed the disaster.
Files and presentations
Exhibition Location / Event Location
- – ONLINE –
- – ONLINE –
- – ONLINE –
- – ONLINE –