Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate and assess the current house building practices of various actors in the ongoing reconstruction process in Aceh, Indonesia, where the 2004 tsunami and earthquake killed many people and destroyed many houses and buildings. A field survey, laboratory tests of building materials, structural analysis, and a one-day workshop were conducted. The study produced the following findings. Planning and design should be improved so that the needs of the communities match with the reconstruction efforts. Proper seismic design should be ensured to avoid severe damage from future earthquakes. Building materials should be improved to meet minimum qualifications. The quality of workmanship should be improved. Good project management and supervision should be introduced to improve structural quality. Unless such improvements are achieved, unsafe houses and buildings will be reproduced in a large numbers through the reconstruction process, making it impossible to "rebuild a safer Aceh against earthquakes."
