Temporary Housing Unit
Hawaii is the most isolated population center on earth making it unique in its vulnerability to natural disasters such as hurricanes or tsunamis. The need for place-based, locally sourced solutions to meet the need for temporary housing in the result of such a disaster is the primary goal of this project.
This design was created using a community design approach in partnership between the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa - School of Architecture. Students in ARCH 201 prepared a variety of design options for post-disaster housing with HI-EMA offering specific design feedback, background information on emergency management priorities and ongoing support throughout the course.
The design has that married aesthetic, functionality and cost to create a beautiful, comfortable and functional space. Phase 2 will join together multiple Wiki Hale units to assess the modular design viability in order to meet the needs of larger families. This “village” will be built at Palama Settlement where the local Kalihi community can have easy access to view and provide design feedback. This phase of the project will consist of 10-15 single units, connected in a variety of spatial configurations. Purchasing and installing these units and the additional features needed for them will cost approximately $25,000 total.
This booklet is a complete documentation of a singular housing unit within Wiki Hale village. It includes a list of materials and guidance explaining how the unit is constructed within a short amount of time.
Photos by: Aaron Yoshino
