There is no need to reiterate the versatility of containers when it comes to their use for building a structure. They can be used to build almost all types of structures including offices, buildings, houses, and colleges and schools. Despite their versatility to shape up any kind of structure, the use of containers as a disaster response measure is still looked at with apprehensions.
The use of containers to rebuild a school after the recent Chilean earthquake disaster leaves no room for any doubt about their use as a disaster response measure. Using only containers, a group of university students was able to build a local school in a tsunami devastated town within four weeks. Tubul, located about 300 miles south-west of Santiago, is a fishing town with a population of around 3000 people. The town was one of the worst affected areas in the Chilean earthquake and tsunami.
The architecture department of Finis Terrae University initiated an effort, Viento Fuerte or Strong Wind, to build a school for Tubul. The department selected a team of 56 students to design, mount, and equip the school. A company donated 22 shipping containers for this effort. The students used these containers as the building blocks for the proposed school.
They isolated the containers and employed them as prefabricated modules for building the new school. Out of 22 containers, 20 were placed on the ground and two containers on the second level. The containers on the second level were joined by one of their larger sides and functioned as classrooms and spaces for other purposes.
The school also features shaded open areas that can be used as patios. The covering on this area protects students from rain and sun. The new school was also connected with the old school building that survived the earthquake and tsunami. The promoter of this project asserts that this school was designed and built as a full functioning structure. It should not be looked as a makeshift arrangement.
As already discussed, the most exciting part of the project was the timeline within which it was completed. Just four weeks to design and build a fully functional school in an earthquake devastated area. The following English video, published by the university, shares this exciting experience:
Though the Chilean earthquake may have lost the news space to the rescue operation of Chilean miners and the devastating Japanese earthquake, its consequences are there to see for everybody. Viento Fuerte continues with it effort to rebuild Tubul. The initiative is currently seeking donations for their new projects.
Via TreeHugger
