The architects behind 16 disaster relief shelters built following the T?hoku earthquake as part of Toyo Ito's Home-for-All project have shared their thoughts on the buildings that are still in use as community centres.
Home-for-All saw projects realised in Japan to provide respite for people affected by the disaster and to aid long-term community rebuilding efforts.
The volunteer-run project saw 16 centres built that were designed by Toyo Ito, Kazuyo Sejima, Riken Yamamoto, Astrid Klein, Mark Dytham, Yukinari Hisayama, Michiko Okano, Jun Yanagisawa, Tetsuo Kondo, Maki Onishi and Yuki Hyakuda.
Top: The community hall by Klein Dytham Architecture. Above: Heita Home-for-All by Reiken Yamamoto and Field Shop
This month marks the 10 year anniversary of the magnitude 9.0 earthquake that occurred off of the Pacific coast of T?hoku, which caused a devastating tsunami with waves over 40 metres high. The Tohoku earthquake was the strongest ever recorded to hit Japan, killing 15,000 people and displacing over 200,000 others. The tsunami also inundated a power plant and caused the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.
The Heita community centre features an open hearth
Ten years after the disaster the architects involved in the relief scheme reflected on what the project means to them.
"Home-for-All has two purposes," explained Japanese architect Toyo Ito, who set up the non-profit.
"First it is a place where people would like to gather every day, even if they do not h...