Growing the architecture of Barbados : from vulnerable to resilient shelters

This thesis looks at the vulnerable housing stock on the island of Barbados. The

island is vulnerable to a number of natural disasters namely hurricanes, earthquakes,

floods and, tsunamis. The types of vulnerable housing stock on the island

are, in some cases, built of inferior materials or with substandard building techniques.

This thesis will look at such vulnerable housing and some of its contributing

factors. We will analyze some of the most recent housing solutions being produced

by the National Housing Corporation (NHC), a government run organization, to

see in what ways they are successfully or unsuccessfully addressing the problem

of vulnerability. This analysis will provide valuable insight and information on what

may be the more successful methods employed in the event of natural disasters.

Should a radical pre-emptive approach be used to improve the housing stock in

order to mitigate the effects of natural disasters? Or are there other options we

should consider? This thesis will aim to explore potential housing designs from

pre-emptive to resilient.