Designing for Community Resilience

The key to resilient design is dual-use functionality. My prototype, designed for the Sundarbans, uses elevated pile foundations and local materials like bamboo and thatch. This allows the structure to stay dry and safe during storms while providing a vital gathering space for the village when the skies are clear.

Disaster resilience is often misunderstood as simply building strong walls. In my experience, true resilience lies in creating infrastructure that fits the local landscape and economic reality. The Sundarban Resilience Centre prototype is a practical response to the increasing frequency of storms in the Bay of Bengal. By using a galvanized steel frame and woven bamboo walls on a pile foundation, the shelter is not only affordable to build but also easy to repair using locally available skills.

Why Dual-Use Design Matters

Building a structure that sits empty for most of the year is a waste of resources. These shelters are designed to integrate into the daily rhythm of the village. When not serving as a storm refuge, they function as community centres, classrooms, or safe spaces for livestock. This creates a sense of ownership, ensuring the building is maintained by the people who rely on it.

Materiality and Climate Response

• Elevated Foundations: By raising the floor level, we mitigate the risk of flooding during storm surges.
• Local Skills: Using bamboo and thatch lowers the carbon footprint and keeps construction costs manageable for remote, vulnerable communities.
• Expandability: The design is modular, meaning it can grow as community funds and needs increase.

My approach avoids heavy tech in favor of passive, common-sense engineering that can be replicated. Whether it is a disaster shelter or an urban regeneration project in Delhi, the goal remains the same: create architecture that is alive, affordable, and deeply rooted in the needs of the people.