THE Myanmar Engineering Society and the Association of Myanmar Architects have launched a community cyclone shelter competition, with entrants instructed to come up with shelters able to withstand winds of at least 125 miles per hour (mph).

The competition is split into three categories – shelters for 100, 300 and 600 inhabitants – and the society intends to use the winning designs in communities in the coastal areas of the Ayeyarwady delta region.

“All designs have to meet the minimum requirements, which are a load capacity of 150 pounds per square feet for all floor areas, including corridors, access routes and roof level, a design wind velocity of at least 125mph, design storm surge height of 15 feet above the ground and seismic intensity of 0.2g,” state the guidelines issued by Myanmar Engineering Society.

While the number of applications is not limited, organisers said they did not expect more than 30 designs because of the amount of work that must go into each design.

“Up to August 27, we’ve already received 21 applications and we expect to receive only another four or five designs. This is because it takes so long to come up with each design and there are only two weeks left in the competition. Each team can present two designs for each of the three categories but I doubt a team would be able to come up with six different designs,” said Daw Aung Sea Sar, an architect with local company Design 2000, who is helping to organise the competition.

“Participant should consider the foundation depth, wind velocity, floor live load, design storm surge height and how many levels are required for community buildings such as monasteries, schools or hospitals,” she said.

The designs will be judged on several criteria, with 60 percent of the marks awarded for architectural and structural concepts, 15pc for environmental impact and 25pc for construction, transport and maintenance cost efficiency, said announcement from the Association of Myanmar Architects.

For all three community designs of 100, 300 and 600 inhabitants, entrants are instructed to allow 10 square feet (1square metre) per occupant. They must also include one toilet for every 40 occupants, water storage facilities that will provide sufficient drinking water for three days and adequate ventilation.
Selected designs and honourable mentions will be displayed at the MES headquarters in Yangon’s Hlaing township on September 21 and the awarding ceremony will be held on September 24.

The winning designs will be built in areas designated by private donors and the construction management will be performed by the winning entrants, while UN Habitat and Htun Foundation will be providing financial support.