Temporary Relief Housing Structures

The main feature of this series of structures that was designed and built as part of the 1st phase of the massive relief and reconstruction efforts following the devastating earthquake and tsunami of March 2011 are the square logs made from local Sugi.
Although several cross sectional sizes were employed in the design and construction the vast majority of the logs that make up the structural walls are 113mm thick x 190mm deep.
The design takes into consideration the not only the aesthetic and psychological effects of natural wood but also its natural insulating value and the ability of natural wood to control interior ambience through absorption and release of moisture from the air which greatly contributes to the comfort of inside of the structure.
A total of over 600 structures were supplied and built throughout the North Eastern Coast of Japan soon after the mega disaster for March 2011.
The structures offered ease of construction as well as the ability for it to be dismantled and re-assembled elsewhere easily and cost effectively.
The design received the top award in the “2012 Good Design Award Competition”