First Aid Architecture. A sustainable modular approach to emergency relief response.

The humanitarian crises of today – whether geopolitical, environmental, socioeconomic, or an intertwined combination of them – expose critical systemic flaws in disaster relief infrastructure. Existing reactive architectural responses, such as plastic family tents or refurbished shipping containers, routinely provide subpar performance and compromise the dignity and psychological rehabilitation of the survivors. To address these challenges, this thesis presents “First Aid Architecture” (FAA): a sustainable, circular, non-volumetric modular design framework engineered for multiple temporary deployments. Customised for a generative and parametric workflow, the FAA system utilises a robust, uniform structural skeletal frame paired with durable high-performance interchangeable panels designed in accordance with Eurocode standards and accessibility guidelines. Standardised mechanical joinery enables quick and easy assembly and disassembly by untrained volunteer teams without the need for heavy machinery or specialist equipment. Scalability and feasibility are managed through a proposed decentralised network of climate-zoned logistics hubs. The framework’s adaptability to real-life scenarios is validated through three practical applications: refugee housing in Palestine, a post-disaster medical centre in Nepal, and an educational complex in Senegal. Ultimately, this research seeks to shift the paradigm of disaster response from fragile temporary shelters to an automated, durable, and humanising circular architecture.