Shelter, Housing and Home in Crises

Principal Investigator(s): Mr Charles Parrack

Contact: cparrack@brookes.ac.uk

About us

The aim of our research is to improve the quality and effectiveness of reconstruction after the devastation and trauma of natural disaster and conflict. Shelter and settlements have wide impact and influence health, livelihoods, safety, environment, protection, education, water and sanitation, cultural identity and community.

It reaches vulnerable groups such as children, old people and the disabled. It influences psychosocial issues and is critical in disaster risk reduction and resilience.

Strategies for dealing with shelter in emergency settings can be controversial. Questions arise such as:

  • how to balance immediate needs vs. planning for longer-term
  • are construction materials appropriate to local knowledge and skills
  • should local communities design and manage housing
  • do traditional shelters contribute to people’s well-being and sense of community
  • what role can innovative technologies play.

We work in collaboration with operational agencies to identify research projects on the impact of shelter, analyses and disseminate findings amongst the shelter community of practice.

Aceh 2005, recovery after the Indian Ocean Tsunami (photocredit Bill Flinn)

Membership

Staff

Name Role Email
Professor Cathrine Brun Director of CENDEP cbrun@brookes.ac.uk
Ms Maria Faraone Senior Lecturer in Architecture, RIBA Studio Programme Director MFaraone@Brookes.ac.uk
Mr Bill Flinn Associate Lecturer bflinn@brookes.ac.uk
Aparna Maladkar Post Graduate Research Assistant and Associate Lecturer amaladkar@brookes.ac.uk
Mr Charles Parrack Reader and Shelter after Disaster Research and Knowledge Lead cparrack@brookes.ac.uk
Dr Brigitte Piquard Reader in Humanitarianism and Conflict bpiquard@brookes.ac.uk

Students

Name Thesis Title Supervisors Completed
Oscar Natividad Puig The role of multi-scalar networks in participatory urban interventions addressing socio-spatial inequality: an actor- network perspective Professor Cathrine Brun, Professor Sue Brownill

Active

Tobias Vokuhl Built back better? Exploring end-user perceptions of Economic, Symbolic, Cultural and Social capitals gained or lost in Nepal Government grant qualifying post-earthquake reconstruction housing. Professor Cathrine Brun, Professor Ramin Keivani

Active