Social, Economic, and Environmental Benefits of Vernacular Architecture in Post-Disaster Reconstruction
Abstract
The ongoing process of rebuilding after a disaster has some ongoing challenges with regard to social acceptability, economic viability, and environmental sustainability. The majority of reconstruction programs utilize standardized housing models that may not adequately address local culture, available economic means, and environmental factors. Therefore, the transition from temporary housing to long-term settlement is often not resilient and does not provide residents with a satisfactory solution. This paper will examine the environmental, social, and economic benefits of utilizing vernacular architecture as an alternative to traditional postdisaster reconstruction practices. Although the traditional definition of vernacular architecture may be limited to the use of local building materials and traditional building forms, this study will define vernacular architecture in terms of the process by which vernacular architecture is built, such as relying on the participation of users, utilizing locally available resources, and adapting to the socio-cultural and economic contexts of the users. This study uses a qualitative and comparative approach in order to review academic literature and analyse three live examples: Atmeh Camp in Syria; Housing reconstruction in Sri Lanka after the 2004 tsunami; and housing reconstruction in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. Each example represents a different context for displacement but shares certain characteristics in terms of their housing practices. All the examples illustrate how vernacular architecture provides cumulative benefits on many levels. Briefly, vernacular structures are credible, sustainable basis for postdisaster housing, and recognizing emergent and transitional communities as vernacular forms can lead to more inclusive, affordable, and sustainable recovery solutions.
Zenodo DOI:-10.5281/zenodo.19643626
Keywords
Post-Disaster Reconstruction, Vernacular Architecture, Sustainability, Community Resilience, Housing RecoveryHow to Cite
References
Davidson, C., Johnson, C., Lizarralde, G., Dikmen, N., & Sliwinski, A. (2007). Truths and myths about community participation in post-disaster housing projects. Habitat International, 31(1), 100–115.
Lizarralde, G., Johnson, C., & Davidson, C. (2010). Rebuilding after disasters: From emergency to sustainability. Routledge.
UN-Habitat. (2020). Informal settlements and reconstruction policy. Nairobi, Kenya.
UN-Habitat. (2023). Resilient settlements in crisis contexts. Nairobi, Kenya.
Lyons, M. (2009). Building back better: The large-scale impact of small-scale approaches to reconstruction. World Development, 37(2), 385–398.
El-Masri, N., & Kellett, N. (2003). Post-war reconstruction: Participatory approaches. Development in Practice, 13(4), 384–397.
Tipple, S. (2010). Self-help housing as a strategy for sustainable reconstruction. Environment and Urbanization, 22(2), 401–418.
Kennedy, J., Ashmore, J., Babister, E., & Kelman, I. (2008). The meaning of “build back better”: Evidence from post-tsunami Aceh and Sri Lanka. Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, 16(1), 24–36.
Barenstein, M. (2006). Housing reconstruction in post-tsunami Sri Lanka. World Bank.
Jha, A., Miner, T., & Stanton-Geddes, Z. (2013). Building back better: Achieving resilience through stronger, faster, and more inclusive post-disaster reconstruction. World Bank.
Duyne Barenstein, A., & Iyengar, A. (2010). The humanitarian response to natural disasters:
Evaluating the use of vernacular housing. World Bank.
Oliver, P. (2006). Built to meet needs: Cultural issues in vernacular architecture.
Architectural Press.
UN-Habitat. (2015). People-centered housing recovery. Nairobi, Kenya.
UN-Habitat. (2019). Urban response in displacement contexts. Nairobi, Kenya.
Alshawawreh, R., & Mason, P. S. (2024). Vernacular architecture as a resilience framework. Buildings, 14(2).
Albadra, H. (2017). Vernacular architecture and environmental sustainability. Journal of Architectural Research, 9(1), 15–28.
UNHCR. (2014). Global strategy for sustainable shelter. Geneva, Switzerland.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). (2013).
Ownerdriven housing reconstruction guidelines. Geneva, Switzerland.
Habitat for Humanity. (2012). Lessons from Haiti earthquake housing reconstruction.
Atlanta, GA.
World Bank. (2023). Reconstruction and local economic recovery. Washington, DC.
World Bank. (2006). Housing reconstruction in post-tsunami Sri Lanka. Washington, DC.
UNDP. (2017). Housing reconstruction using recycled rubble in Gaza. New York, NY.
UNDP. (2021). Sustainable reconstruction practices. New York, NY.
Alexander, A. (2014). Housing reconstruction after natural disasters. Disasters, 38(4), 688– 708.
Reuters. (n.d.). Syrian displacement and informal shelter conditions. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/idUSRTR2BU83/
Alameddine, A., et al. (2023). Housing recovery and vernacular adaptation in displacement contexts. Sustainability, 15(4).
Brown, A., & Kelman, J. (2024). Community-driven reconstruction and climate resilience in post-disaster settlements. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 98.
World Bank. (2022). Owner-driven housing programs: Global review. Washington, DC.
Johnson, M., & Lizarralde, R. (2012). Post-disaster reconstruction and sustainability.
Building Research & Information, 40(6), 697–710.
Archnet. (n.d.). Post-disaster housing project, Sri Lanka.
Retrieved from https://www.archnet.org/sites/6485
IFRC. (2024). Climate-responsive shelter and local construction practices. Geneva, Switzerland.
Sanderson, D. (2008). Temporary shelter or permanent housing? Rethinking post-disaster settlement. Humanitarian Exchange, 40, 6–9.
Anadolu Agency. (n.d.). Syrian refugees at Atmeh camp in Idlib: Photo gallery. Retrieved from https://www.aa.com.tr/en/pg/photo-gallery/syrian-refugees-at-atmeh-campinidlib/0/20140
REACH Initiative. (2018). Syria: Atmeh camp shelter and settlement assessment. Geneva, Switzerland.
Sanderson, D., & Sharma, B. D. D. (2018). World disasters report: Focus on forced migration. IFRC.
UN-Habitat. (2021). Informal settlements and self-built housing in Northern Syria. Nairobi, Kenya.
REACH Initiative. (2020). Shelter and infrastructure assessment: Atmeh and surrounding camps. Geneva, Switzerland.
Norwegian Refugee Council. (2022). From tents to informal housing: Spatial transformation of Syrian camps. Oslo, Norway.
UNHCR. (2023). Global trends in protracted displacement and settlement adaptation. Geneva, Switzerland.
Boano, J. (2015). Housing anxiety and recovery after disaster. Forced Migration Review, 49, 28–30.
Dezeen. (2013). Post-tsunami housing by Shigeru Ban. Retrieved from https://www.dezeen.com/2013/05/03/post-tsunami-housing-byshigeru-ban/
United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). (n.d.). Building a more resilient Haiti.
Retrieved from https://www.unops.org/news-and-stories/news/building-a-more-resilienthaiti
Overseas Development Institute (ODI). (2011). Supporting owner-driven reconstruction. London, UK.
Hamdan, S. (2022). Local building knowledge in post-conflict reconstruction. International Journal of Architectural Heritage, 16(5), 745–760.
Mulligan, S., & Nadarajah, J. (2012). Rebuilding community resilience: Learning from postdisaster housing. International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 3(3), 210–226.
García, L., & Torres, M. (2025). Local construction knowledge and sustainable recovery in displacement contexts. Journal of Housing and the Built Environment
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Fawzya Ewiss , Salah Hajismail
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Individual articles are published Open Access under the Creative Commons Licence: CC-BY 4.0.
