Christchurch, New Zealand 2010-2012: Fitting People Back Into An Earthquaked City

Seismic retrofitting involves fitting back into existing structures bolts, braces and base isolation units and the like, so that an existing structure is more resistant to seismic incidents. In addition to engineering, strategic and technical elements a significant part of the retrofit process involves a human element. This paper focuses not on the engineering and structural elements in the retrofit and remediation process but on the human element, specifically some of the ways in which people can be fitted back into spaces that have been severely affected by earthquakes. The examples and experiences come from the 10,000 plus earthquakes that Christchurch, New Zealand, has experienced between 4.30 a.m., eptember 4 2010 and April 2012. Christchurch’s earthquake experiences are considered in the following contexts that relate both to the immediate emergency response situation, and the longer term recovery issues associated with fitting people back into an earthquaked city.Emergency response: Emergency Services  Individuals and informal organisations  Temporary housing and provision of basic services to displaced persons and affected communitiesRecovery:  Private citizens’ interaction with engineers and insurance companies: Case study: a Category 1 Heritage privately owned house that had been extensively strengthened before the earthquakes  Keeping businesses, schools, and factories working when much of the central city and environs is significantly damaged and is fenced off  Permitting the public back into public spaces: physical access, internet, published books  Redesigning a city, when most of the Central Business District has been decimated and whole suburbs are permanently uninhabitable  Interim architecture: shipping container structures, tents, temporary buildings and gap-filling projects Responses and concerns of the general public to returning to work in older and high rise buildings, even where there has been remediation and/or retrofitting

کلیدواژه ها:

Christchurch ، earthquake ، response ، recovery