2. Facts
• Principal Architect:
Shigeru Ban Architects
• Local Architect: PWA
Architects
• Client: Philip Bay
• Design: 2005
• Completed: 2006
• Area of single unit: 71
sq metres
• Number of units: 67
• Cost per unit: USD
15,000
• Overall Cost: USD 1.7
million
• Site Area: 15900 sq
metres
The Architect
Shigeru Ban is a Japanese
architect, known for his
innovative work with
paper, particularly
recycled cardboard tubes
used to quickly and
efficiently house disaster
victims.
Winner of 2014 Pritzker,
for his innovative use of
material and his
dedication to
humanitarian efforts
around the world
3. • Kirinda, a
small Muslim
fishing village
affected by
the Indian
Ocean
tsunami on
26 December,
2004
• Involved
construction
of 67 houses,
a mosque
and tree
plantation
• The houses
are spread
around
Kirinda, in an
area of
15,900 sq
metres
Intro
4. Site
• Level site, close to
the sea
• Village buildings
are on either side
of the road
• Landscape include
paddy fields, lakes,
coconut
plantations and
sandy beaches
• Tropical climate
with high humidity
and very little
seasonal variation
in temperature
• Typical local
architecture
includes single-
storey detached
constructions
composed of
concrete blocks,
corrugated-iron
roof sheeting and
timber
5. • Climate played a
significant role in
conditioning the design,
with ensuring ventilation
a prominent
consideration
• The houses were
designed to allow
maximum cross
ventilation
• Slatted upper walls at
the gable ends, the open
court space in the middle
of the building
The Design
6. • The open court space in the
middle of the building was
designed to provide a
shaded, ventilated area
where inhabitants could
carry out various important
functions, such as eating,
socializing and repairing
fishing nets and other
equipment.
• The separation of the hall
and the roofed court with
folding doors was designed
with women’s privacy in
mind, so that women could
remain unseen by guests
7. Materials
• The principal material was
compressed earth blocks (CEB), a
compressed mixture of sunbaked
clay and cement available in Sri
Lanka at a low cost.
• Parts of the walls were also
composed of prefabricated
furniture units made from
rubber trees, which is also a
locally sourced natural material
• Clay tiles were used on the roof,
on top of the timber trusses.
• A slatted timber screen was used
for the top section of the walls at
both gable ends and between
the hall and the roofed court.
• Wooden panels were used for
folding doors between the hall
and the roofed court. Wood
sections that were crafted off
site were made from teak,
coconut and rubber trees.
Varnish was not used on the
exterior panels.
8. • The majority of the
materials were
sourced from Sri
Lanka including the
CEBs, the rubber
furniture units and
the clay roofing
tiles the homes
were designed to
be assembled from
modular units
prefabricated in a
local workshop, off
site
• Due to its strength,
a central pillar
made from
coconut wood was
used to support
the roof
• The simple CEB
construction
technology that
was utilized
allowed villagers to
be directly
involved in the
workforce and
thereby to gain
valuable skills
9. Analysis
• The separation of the hall and the
roofed court with folding doors was
designed with women’s privacy in
mind, so that women could remain
unseen by guests. But the decision to
locate the kitchen and bathroom
within the building is problematic for
some residents due to the greater
visibility of women
• The open court space is exposed to
other houses, which may pose an issue
regarding privacy
• Some inhabitants have adapted the
design by blocking up the court
through cement blocks walls
10. • The increased exposure to the
outside results in dust entering
the house, as well as rain
entering the bedrooms at the
gable end due to the roof not
overhanging sufficiently to
shelter the structure from the
rain
• The houses do not feature
drainpipes, so that rainwater
simply runs off the roof to the
ground
11. • Challenge to encourage people for
utilising CEBs. The inhabitants
have opted to use large concrete
blocks for additional walls, rather
than utilize CEBs as featured in the
original design
• Houses are structurally robust,
with the wooden roof trusses
securely attached to the walls and
sufficiently sturdy and heavy to
withstand high winds and
earthquakes
12. Inference
• The local customs must be given
prior importance.
• Climatic conditions must also be
taken into consideration. Design
elements introduced must not
cause an issue on the long run of
the residence.
• Proper spaces must be provided
according to the income group,
and the occupation of the people
for whom the design is intended
• If new materials are being
introduced, proper awareness
must be given to the locals before
implementing.
13. Thank you!
Barakat, Sultan, 2013, On Site Review Report : Post Tsunami Housing,
http://archnet.org/system/publications/contents/8733/original/DTP101232.pdf?1391611331
Archdaily – Post Tsunami Housing, Shigeru Ban
