Design 7 & 8 | Summer 2010 | Studio Brief | Alfredo Andia

LLICO RECONSTRUCTION

STUDIO: Envisioning the post-earthquake and post-tsunami

reconstruction of the Town of Llico, Bio-Bio Region, Chile.

February 27, 2010 On February 27, 2010, at 3:34 AM the Bio Bio region in the South of Chile was the epicenter of an 8.8 Richter scale earthquake, the fifth most powerful ever recorded. The earthquake set off tsunami waves that by 8 AM that day had swamped the shores of the South of Chile destroying many coastal towns before moving across the Pacific. Studio Our studio engaged in the reconstruction effort of the community of Llico in the Bio Bio Region. Llico is located approximately 80 miles south form the epicenter of the earthquake. It is a small coastal town whose inhabitants live primarily from small scale fishing. The town of Llico had a population of 792 inhabitants. It is estimated that approximately 157 houses of the 321 were impacted by the Tsunami. This studio in the first part of the semester analyzed the existing conditions, examined potential sites for reconstruction, and investigated an array of existing solutions for social housing in Chile. The studio worked closely with the Reconstruction Office of the Bio Bio Region, and consultants. The design work of the studio included several schematic Master Plan alternatives that could aid in the creation of a clear identity for the town. We developed several mitigation plan alternatives against Tsunamis. And we evaluated the development of areas for local tourism related to fishing and beach activities. Housing Standards The most important effort in the second part of the studio was dedicated to envision several design alternatives for 60 new houses and a neighborhood for tsunami affected families. This book is dedicated to document the housing alternatives for these neighborhoods. The design of the houses is inserted into the contemporary discourse of social housing in Chile

We used the minimum standards for social housing by the Ministry of Housing in Chile. The houses typically are of 450 sf (45 m2) and could be enlarged to 600 sf to 700 sf (60 m2 to 70 m2). The standard plot for this type of housing does not exceed 1500 sf (150 m2), and typically the dimension for the front of the house is 6 mt. (approximately 6 yards). The budget for the construction of the family dwelling is very stringent. Typically the cost of building the house it should not cost more than US$11,000 to $15,000 and the cost of urbanization should not exceed the $4,000. Social Housing in Chile The contemporary standards of social housing in Chile are the result of more than sixty year experience on the subject. In the 1950s Chile was one of the pioneering countries that introduced concepts of progressive housing solutions such as: site and services, and self-help housing. By the late-seventies and early 1980s, progressive housing for the lowest income earners were introduced into national programs where the applicant had to apply for governmental subsidy. Some of these plans were used to transform precarious neighborhoods by integrating the self-help construction capabilities of slum dwellers to basic urbanization and sanitation infrastructure. The Site and Service program called “casetas sanitarias” was popularized during that period. Dwellers were given a plot of land averaging an area of 100 square meters connected to sewage and water systems. Each lot included a reinforced-brick’ sanitary unit of 6.75 square meters, which contained a bathroom and a kitchen area. In a second phase, each family constructed a temporary structure which later is replaced by a more definitive solution as the dwellers accumulate materials and savings. In the early 1980s with the implementation of programs such as “Mejoramiento de Barrio” (PMB) the discourse of progressive social housing began to shift. It began to favor more governmental intervention until the housing solutions surpass the 30-40 m2 (300 to 400 sf). Since the mid-1980s the Chilean economy grew consistently. Today the per capita income in Chile is around US$15,000, making it one of the highest in Latin America. More than two decades of economic growth had an effect in social housing policy. The governmental discourse began to focus more intensely into subsidy programs that improved the standards of social housing. With the years, more and more houses produced under programs such as “Vivienda Social Dinámica sin Deuda (VSDsD)” and “Fondos Concursables para Proyectos Solidarios (FCVS)” included at least two bedrooms, living room, dinning room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. An increasing number of these projects also gave its dwellers the construction drawings and approved permits for a second phase. By 2009, the average area of the first phase of the houses provided by the FCVS program was 45,1 m2 (451 sf). In order to save in land, foundations, and roof materials, most of these projects began to standardize the design principles of the house. These houses are usually two story floors high and the street side of the lots usually is 6 mt wide. Climatic conditions According to the Chilean Norm NCH.1079 this region is classified as SL Zone (Sur Litoral). This zone is characterized with saline soil, humid environment, temperature variations from temperate to cold, strong winds from the west, rainy maritime climate, and long winters. The annual rainfall surpasses the 1330 mm. The maximum temperature usually doesn’t surpass the 22 C.

Thermal transmittance and resistance The requirements for enclosures for housing elements contained in the thermal regulation O.G.U.C., article 4.1.10, requires that the house components have a thermal transmittance “U” of equal or less than the following: Roof: 0.38 W/m2K; Perimeter Walls 1.7 W/m2K; and Floor 0.60 W/m2K. Or a total thermal resistance “Rt” equal or superior to: Roof: 2,63 m2K/W; Perimeter Walls 0.59 m2K/W; and Floor 1.67 m2K/W. The proposals in this studio utilized industrialized SIP panels or a protected “quincha” method (wattle and daub) over a reinforced wood frame structure. Students are asked to consider solar radiation to reduce the energy consumption of lighting and heating. Since an important energy loss escapes through the soil the housing proposals sit on concrete stilt foundations generating an airy mezzanine which is insulated from the house. Tsunami mitigation Tsunamis are a low-probability but one of the most highly destructive natural disaster. After the 2004 Indonesian Tsunami much attention has been placed on this phenomenon. However most of the effort has been placed in developing warning systems and evacuation plans. There is worldwide very limited experience in design and planning against Tsunamis. The earthquake of February 27, 2010, lifted instantly the town of Llico approximately 2 mt. (2 yards) above the sea level. The epicenter of this earthquake, 83 Miles (135 km) directly north, presented one of the worst scenarios for a near-shore Tsunami for the town of Llico. The Tsunami inundated all the areas of the town which were below the 7 mt. above the sea level. The Tsunami mitigation strategy for reconstruction chosen is not to rebuild above the 7 mt. mark. The sites chosen in the studio reconfigure the ground to reach the 7 mt. mark. The stilt foundations give an extra height above that mark. The designs also assume a significant buffer zone with which the town will be protected with a barrier of native trees that would dissipate the force of the tsunami waves.

Location & near-shore tsunami waves affecting Llico

Inundation Area

Rain & Wind

NIne planning alternatives for the reconstruction

Typical Social Housing master plan solutions under the current government programs (Lot size 6 mt. by 25 mt)

Housing Units under this program have a first constructed phase of 45 m2 (2 bedrooms + kitchen, bathroom, dinning and dining rooms) and a second phase that reaches to 60-70 m2.

Minimum housing standards by the Ministry of Housing:

Examples of projects build in the past 5 years (US$7,000 to US$14,000 dwellings):