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DAtE Green Design AwardHurricanes and <a href="http://inhabitat.com/new-submission-33/" target="_blank">typhoons</a> wreak havoc on poorly constructed homes. Winds tear roofs and walls apart and flood waters inundate homes, causing the inhabitants to flee to higher ground. An overall better solution is needed for <a href="http://inhabitat.com/prince-charles-to-become-slumlord-millionaire-of-eco-community-in-india/" target="_blank">low-income housing</a> in disaster-prone areas. One potential idea is to build a solid, disaster-proof core to hold the home's key elements, and is designed to survive through the strongest of storms. Surrounding that core is a series of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/first-full-bamboo-school-in-philippines-stands-up-to-tough-stormwinds/" target="_blank">bamboo</a> living units that will take the brunt of the storm, but afterwards will be inexpensive to rebuild.1
DAtE Green Design AwardThese unique bamboo houses are part of a much larger disaster resistant community concept for the Philippines designed by a group of Indian architects - Komal Gupta, Vasanth Packirisamy, Vikas Sharma, Sakshi Kumar and Siripurapu Monish Kumar.2
DAtE Green Design AwardTheir entry for the Design Against the Elements Competition is a master planned eco community with cluster housing units, two community centers, prayer and mediation space, a library, and lots of open green space.3
DAtE Green Design AwardThe community centers, also built on stilts, house a library, medical facilities, daycare center, market halls and a community hall.4
DAtE Green Design AwardThe landscape is designed to absorb a lot of the stormwater and also direct it away from the homes toward lower elevations.5
DAtE Green Design AwardVarious vegetated areas supply food for the community.6
DAtE Green Design AwardThe side elevations of the bamboo eco housing buildings.7
DAtE Green Design AwardRainwater is harvested via the roofs and stored in a tank at the bottom of the structure. Emergency food stores and a water tank are kept secure at the top of the building.8
DAtE Green Design AwardEach apartment is built around the central core with the kitchen and bathroom. A large bamboo deck is eventually converted into a living and bedroom by the family.9
DAtE Green Design AwardThe community halls are built off the ground to avoid flooding and with strong materials to withstand strong storms.10
DAtE Green Design AwardFlooding from either monsoons or storms will not affect the buildings because of where they are built.11- DAtE Green Design AwardIn the event of a massive storm, the living pods may be destroyed, but the disaster proof core will remain. Bamboo living pods can quickly and inexpensively be rebuilt.12
