A Study on Transformation of Living Environment and Domestic Spatial Arrangements:
Focused on a Western Coastal Housing Settlement of Sri Lanka after Sumatra Earthquake and Tsunami 2004

Abstract

The objective of this study was to observe the arrangements of coastal housing settlements, their domestic spatial arrangements, and the transformations that occurred after the Sumatra earthquake and tsunami of 2004. The study focused on recovery-related resettlement and relocation programs, as well as the problems that arose during the reconstruction processes. The implications of resettlement and relocation on changes to domestic spatial arrangements and availability, in addition to community adaptations to the changing living environment were also investigated. Furthermore, the factors that need to be considered to ensure the effectiveness of future reconstruction efforts following disasters were analyzed. We also determined that housing structural quality, local living environment organizations and coastline regulations were the primary factors that mitigated the effects of the tsunami along the Sri Lankan coastline.