SOAS Research Online

Abstract

In Peru, emergency temporary housing (ETH) is currently facing environmental, social, and economic problems. From an environmental perspective, no studies have explored the habitability and internal comfort of these units or the impacts of the materials used. From a social perspective, this type of housing does not generally consider the population's characteristics and socio-cultural relationships in its settlement patterns or interior design. Finally, ETHs are expensive for the government owing to the lack of planning or the difficulty in adapting the units. This enables us to assert that the current response is insufficient. By conducting a field analysis of three types of ETH units in the three major geographic regions of Peru, a diagnostic methodology is used to identify problems and possible solutions in response to each region's habitability condition. The resulting conclusion contributes to organizing a comprehensive response plan to natural phenomena.