2. Rebuilding in Thailand

Steel Homes on the Andaman Coast  

Among the villages destroyed during the 2004 tsunami on Thailand's Andaman Coast was a small fishing community in Phuket called Ban Andaman. The tiny coastal community was rebuilt in steel homes that were specifically designed for the hot wet tropical weather. The design included sloping roofs for good rain runoff and plenty of awning-covered windows to keep the worst of the tropical heat out while providing good cross-ventilation. With an area of 36 m ² the homes include two bedrooms, a living area and dedicated space for the kitchen and toilet, facilities that most traditional village homes do not incorporate. Once again pre-engineering played a big part in providing a solution that was quickly and easily assembled, bolting it together onsite. Assembly was easy enough that with simple training, the local technical engineering students completed the job in short order, putting people back on the banks where their families have fished and lived for generations.

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