Project Information
Arch-410 Emergency Architecture
Course Description
The contents of this booklet are the result of the work and research produced during the
course Arch-410 Emergency Architecture, taught by Associate Professor Alessandra
Swiny, Head of the Department of Architecture, at the University of Nicosia, Cyprus.
This course concentrates on Emergency Architecture – and all that this emerging topic
encompasses. It is an experimental research based course, which covers a wide variety of
fields and topics, and bring together a comprehensive understanding of this vastly complex subject.
Course Structure
The course functions as a research and investigative hub. It is seen as a breeding ground
for creative ideas and research techniques and everyone is to develop their own path
through their areas of interests within the scope of the course. The course is seen as a
place of discussion and debate. Seminars will include a lecture, class discussions, feedback
and debate on readings, and student presentations. The seminars and research
workshops will be treated as ‘think-tanks’ in which we as a group will test new waters and
explore new ideas. There is no hierarchy in this class, everyone is expected and encouraged
to bring new perspectives to the table.
Course Contents
1. How Our World Stands Now: A Discussion
Discussion of students interests and direction for the course, on the main design/research
projects for the class, and on the readings
2. Environmental Issues
Climate change, global warming, rising water levels, population, famine, resources, conflict.
State of the World. Design for Flooding
3. Disasters, Emergency, Crisis
Disaster management, rebuilding after disasters, displaced populations, case studies
The basics: Shelter, Water & Sanitation, Food, Energy, Health, Education, Transport; Psychological
and physical needs
4. Humanitarian Aide & Policy
History Of Humanitarian Design; Current world disasters and how we try to deal with
them. Who’s helping/reacting and why
5. Design Response & Responsibility
6. Learning from nature: Biomimicry
The Industry of nature, animal architecture
7. Smart materials
New materials, utilizing them, learning from them, low vs. high tech
8. Smart Design
Learning from vernacular, time-tested approaches, mobile and flexible architecture,
adaptability and multiple combinations

* ANY WORK (EITHER IMAGE, CONCEPT OR TEXT) CONTAINED IN THIS WEBSITE IS COPYRIGHTED BY THE AUTHORS AND CANNOT BE REPRODUCED IN THE ORIGINAL OR A MODIFIED FORM, IN PARTS OR AS A WHOLE, WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF ALESSANDRA SWINY.