A Study on The Potential of Modular Design in Meeting the Post-Disaster Temporary Housing Need

5th International Symposium of Scientific Research and Innovative Studies, 19 - 22 Mart 2025, ss.462, (Özet Bildiri)

The numbers of people globally uprooted by natural disasters and conflicts have increased

dramatically. A displaced person, as defined by the UNHCR, is "any individual or group of

individuals who are forced or obliged to flee or leave their homes (habitat places), in particular

as a result of or in order to avoid the effects of armed conflict, generalized violence, human

rights violations or natural or human-made disasters" (UNHCR, 2022, p. 2).

As of December 2022 more than 108.4 million people had been forcibly displaced by

persecution, conflict, violence or human rights violations (UNHCR, 2022). Traditional

emergency housing is usually inflexible with very little privacy and long-term usage. A

promising alternative, however, is modular housing, which can be deployed quickly, easily

scaled, and, through prefabrication, improved in quality. These buildings are flexible, with

adaptation according to geographical and climatic conditions, together with enhanced energy

efficiency and sustainability (Lawson et al., 2014, p. 7; Bayliss & Bergin, 2020, p. 32).

This research is inspired by the February 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake, which

underscored the need for effective temporary accommodation. It explores alternative uses for

modular housing following a disaster. By reviewing case studies, the article assesses the

advantages and limitations of modular buildings compared to traditional shelters, focusing on

construction speed, cost, weather resistance, and layout planning.