A natural disaster will inevitably strike New Zealand in the coming years, damaging educational facilities. Delays in building quality replacement facilities will lead to short-term disruption of education, risking long-term inequalities for the affected students. The Christchurch earthquake demonstrated the issues arising from a lack of school planning and support. This research proposes a system that can effectively provide rapid, prefabricated, primary schools in post-disaster environments. The aim is to continue education for children in the short term, while using construction that is suitable until the total replacement of the given school is completed. The expandable prefabricated architecture meets the strength, time, and transport requirements to deliver a robust, rapid relief temporary construction. It is also adaptable to any area within New Zealand. This design solution supports personal well-being and mitigates the risk of educational gaps, PTSD linked with anxiety and depression, and many other mental health disorders that can impact students and teachers after a natural disaster.
A photograph of a section of Oxford Terrace which has been cut open. In the background, police tape has been draped around the footpath as a cordon.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Otakaro Place, Bexley. A great hole has opened up between the deck and the garden with fissures all over the garden".
Damaged pavement on the Williams Street bridge in Kaiapoi. The concrete abutment has risen during the earthquake, forcing its way through the pavement of the footpath into the open.
Damaged pavement on the Williams Street bridge in Kaiapoi. The concrete abutment has risen during the earthquake, forcing its way through the pavement of the footpath into the open.
A photograph submitted by Sam Langley to the QuakeStories website. The description reads, "Cracks on the floor of my local supermarket. Amazingly they were open within 36 hours of both big quakes.".
Damage to the front of the Cathedral. A walkway from Gloucester Street to the Square was opened up for a few days to allow the public a closer look at the Cathedral.
A photograph of a shop window with large letters stating, "Yes we are open". The window also bears a red sticker and spray painted notes from 26 February 2011 stating "Rear collapsed".
The cordon checkpoint at the intersection of Colombo and Gloucester Streets. In the background, people stand in a section of walkway opened up to allow the public a view of Cathedral Square.
An aerial photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The RSA (red roof and three skylights) and electrical substation (red front with the door open) very badly damaged by the rock falls".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The first business to finish their remediation work and re-open for business within the central city. Languages International in Worcester Street".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The Lyttelton Sea Foods shop has re-opened in a portacom on the cleared site in Norwich Quay, Lyttelton after their shop was demolished".
The MedLab building on Kilmore Street. Many of the windows are open or have been broken. Inside, ceiling tiles are missing and swaths of fabric hang from concrete beams.
A photograph submitted by Tim Kerr to the QuakeStories website. The description reads, "Mannequins suspended in an open frontage gently twisting in the breeze – unmolested for weeks. Bottom of High St and Manchester St".
A photograph of a sign on a shop window reading, "We're open! Spruce up underway, not quake related! Exciting new paint job coming soon!". The photograph is captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "New Regent Street".
Christmas decorations hanging on the cordon fence on Colombo Street. A walkway from Gloucester Street to the Square was opened up for a few days to allow the public a closer look at the Cathedral.
A photograph of an open sign for CIRA Coffee & Wares on a residential street in the Christchurch central city. The café was set up in a house after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A sign on a shop window in the CBD reads, "Due to unforseen circumstances we are closed. We will endeavour to open ASAP. Be safe!". Collapsed buildings can be seen reflected in the window glass.
Damage to the Cathedral. A public walkway through to a small viewing area in the Square was opened up for a few weekends to allow the public to see inside the Red Zone.
Damage to the Cathedral. A public walkway through to a small viewing area in the Square was opened up for a few weekends to allow the public to see inside the Red Zone.
Damage to the north side of the Cathedral. A walkway from Gloucester Street to the Square was opened up for a few days to allow the public a closer look at the Cathedral.
The soon-to-be demolished ANZ building in Cathedral Square. A walkway from Gloucester Street to the Square was opened up for a few days to allow the public a closer look at the Cathedral.
Weeds growing around the war memorial in Cathedral Square. A walkway from Gloucester Street to the Square was opened up for a few days to allow the public a closer look at the Cathedral.
People in Cathedral Square on a day when a walkway was opened up between Re:Start Mall and Cathedral Square to allow temporary public access. The plinth where the statue of John Robert Godley, Canterbury's founder, once stood.
A view down Cashel Street, with the Crossing building and the Westpac building in the background. Taken on a day when a walkway was opened up between Re:Start Mall and Cathedral Square to allow temporary public access.
Damage to the north side of the Cathedral. A walkway from Gloucester Street to the Square was opened up for a few days to allow the public a closer look at the Cathedral.
Christmas decorations hanging on the cordon fence on Colombo Street. A walkway from Gloucester Street to the Square was opened up for a few days to allow the public a closer look at the Cathedral.
A photograph of a member of the Wellington Emergency Management Office Emergency Response Team using a crowbar to open the door of a building in the Christchurch central city.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "A family walking past Scorpio Books (now in Cashel Mall Re:Start) soon after the cordon opened up this piece of Hereford Street".
The sign for Shand's Emporium at 88 Hereford Street. A plaque on the building reads, "Building in 1851 by John Shand, re-opened as Shand's Emporium, March 17th 1977".