Abstract
This project examines the issue of floods in metropolitan cities, focusing on their devastating impacts. Flooding is a severe event that leads to loss of life, environmental destruction, and economic disruption. According to the 2021 Global Natural Disaster Report by the National School of Security in Beijing, natural disasters claimed 10,492 lives worldwide that year, with floods accounting for the largest portion—4,393 deaths, or 41.87% of the total. In India, floods annually affect an average of 7.5 million hectares of land, claiming 1,600 lives, and causing damage to crops, homes, and public infrastructure amounting to Rs. 1,805 crores (NDMA). Floods also cause extensive damage to infrastructure, including buildings, transportation systems, and public spaces, exacerbating economic losses. Among this damage is the destruction of furniture and interior products, which often end up as debris, obstructing rescue operations. This project explores whether furniture can be designed into products that help people during disasters, rather than contributing to the debris. The central research question is: “How can we design adaptable furniture that enables people to withstand natural disasters like floods and build resilience?”
Presenters
Sukriti SinghStudent, MA Design, LASALLE College of the Arts, Central Singapore, Singapore
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Design for Disaster, Adaptable furniture, Disaster resilience
