Designing for Disaster: The Impact of Architecture on Landslide Risk and Resilience
RISHITA SAHU
ABSTRACT
As our planet faces increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters, it is becoming clear that human activity is exacerbating many of these events. Landslides are natural hazards that pose significant threats to human lives and property, particularly in areas with steep terrain and unstable slopes. While geological factors play a critical role in triggering landslides, human activities such as architecture practices can also exacerbate the severity and frequency of these events. The construction of buildings, roads, and other infrastructure can alter the natural landscape and increase the susceptibility of slopes to instability, leading to devastating consequences in the event of a landslide. Architects and urban planners play a crucial role in designing and constructing buildings that are not only functional and aesthetically pleasing, but also safe and resilient. However, when it comes to landslides, there is evidence to suggest that some common architectural practices may actually increase the risk of damage and loss of life. The built environment and natural environment are deeply interconnected, and nowhere is this more apparent than in areas prone to landslides. While landslides are often thought of as a purely natural phenomenon, it is increasingly clear that human activity, including architectural practices, can significantly influence their frequency and severity. This paper explores the ways in which architecture practices contribute to the severity of landslides and identifies strategies for mitigating these risks. Factors such as correlation between building height and the likelihood of landslides occurring, design of buildings in landslide-prone areas affecting the likelihood and severity of landslides, construction activities such as excavation and drilling contributing to the risk of landslides, variations in soil composition and soil stability, natural drainage patterns being maintained or modified and the building orientation and placement play significant role in adding to the severity of landslides. This research can provide valuable insights into the factors that contribute to landslides in built environments and inform the development of policies and guidelines aimed at reducing the impact of landslides on human lives and property.
