Resource-efficient construction and conservation
I - 7 Multi-Disaster-Resilient Homes
Full Title: Multi-Disaster-Resilient Homes – Development of a Concrete Residential Building for International Markets
The demand for resilient residential buildings is increasing worldwide. In the United States alone, the housing shortage exceeds five million homes, while approximately 37% of residential buildings are exposed to an elevated risk from natural disasters. At the same time, nearly 90% of single-family homes in the U.S. are still constructed using timber, making them particularly vulnerable in disaster-prone regions. Similar challenges are emerging across Europe, where recurring wildfires in Spain, France, Portugal, and Greece, as well as severe storms and increasing flood events associated with climate change, are placing growing demands on the built environment.
The objective of this project or master's thesis is to investigate how a predominantly concrete-based residential building can be designed to meet the demands of future housing in regions exposed to multiple natural hazards. The work will focus on the development of a technical concept for a Multi-Disaster-Resilient Home capable of providing significantly greater resistance to earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and flooding than conventional residential buildings and continues to be functional particularly after extreme weather events. In addition to evaluating suitable construction materials and building technologies, particular emphasis will be placed on developing innovative structural engineering and building design solutions, assessing their technical feasibility, economic viability, and long-term sustainability.
The thesis forms part of an international development project and offers the opportunity to contribute to the design of a new generation of resilient concrete homes for both the North American and European markets. The detailed scope of work will be defined jointly with the student, taking into account individual interests and academic specializations.
Contact:
Kahnt & Tietze GmbH
Dr.-Ing. Michael Frenzel
Headquarters: Anna-Kuhnow-Straße 39, 04317 Leipzig
Office: Ammonstraße 72, 01067 Dresden
0341 39285 627
www.kahnttietze.de