An adaptable prefabricated timber wall system for social emergency contexts: a self-construction participatory approach in Santiago of Chile

Emergency facilities are often required in those areas where earthquakes, tornadoes, and other natural disasters take place. Unstable socio-political situations and increasing urbanization phenomena in metropolitan areas, especially in developing countries, are other reasons for a rising need for affordable housing, infrastructures, and services in social emergency contexts. This study explores the adaptability of a reusable, light, and prefabricated timber constructive system, developed within the TRE3 research project, for housing facilities in the context of social emergency. An experimental project for a new community centre in Peñalolén (Santiago de Chile) was developed to investigate if a hybrid timber frame (HTF) system can represent a valuable solution in self-construction practices and in the participatory design activities for social inclusiveness processes. Design models and constructive details were investigated in the design process of the new Escuelita Community Centre to prove the adaptability of the HTF system in terms of different architectural applications and technical solutions.