Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) Networking Grants 5/1121
Principle Investigator: 
Prof. Paramita Atmodiwirjo (Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia)
Co-applicant:
Every disaster brings negative impact to the lives of the children and their families as they lose their homes, schools and normal everyday living. During the recent earthquake in Indonesia in 2018, no less than 2,100 schools in Lombok and 2,700 schools in Central Sulawesi were damaged, leaving the children with no place to study. Most recovery and reconstruction programmes focus on the rebuilding of the temporary shelter and facilities, with the physical qualities that cannot provide positive support for the children with psychological trauma.

This project aims to develop a strategy for post-disaster school design and reconstruction to contribute to the healing and wellbeing of the children that have experienced loss and traumatic experience. In particular, this project will explore the possibility for innovative school design model based on biophilic design principles as a means to promote healing by promoting children's connectedness to nature.

The project will bring together the collaborative network of academic partners from UK, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, led by Universitas Indonesia (UI) and De Montfort University (DMU) to share best practices and innovation on biophilic school design models. The network will identify the challenges and opportunities in the implementation of the design model for a post-disaster situation, and provide recommendations for adoption by the government agencies, school design professionals, and the society to improve the well-being of the children in the Southeast Asian countries affected by natural disasters.