Hundreds of thousands of buildings collapsed during the recent earthquake in Sichuan. Experts pointed out that pseudo-modern architecture and edifices constructed without heed to standard building code in rural areas incurred the most earthquake damage.

Hundreds of thousands of buildings collapsed during the recent earthquake that slammed SW China's Sichuan Province on May 12. Experts pointed out that pseudo-modern architecture and edifices constructed without heed to standard building code in rural areas incurred the most earthquake damage. Such constructions should be avoided in post-earthquake resettlement and reconstruction.

Wu Zhiqiang is the dean of the College of Architecture and Urban Planning at Tong Ji University and also an appointed general planner for resettlement strategy in the Chengdu quake-hit zone. He together with six experts from Tong Ji University arrived at quake-hit areas to discuss relocation plans with local leaders as well as relevant leaders from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and Construction.

After inspecting some of the quake-hit areas, Wu emphasized the importance of standardization for future resettlement and reconstruction.

Wu pointed out that a cluster of fault zones runs through the quake-hit areas. They should be taken into consideration when building temporary and permanent housing and no houses should ever be built on top of a fault zone.

"We can’t forecast the exact time and intensity of an earthquake, but if we know the trends along a fault zone, we can use that information to reduce losses," Wu told Oriental Morning Post.

"Some buildings can withstand a strong earthquake; the secret is their location," Wu added. "Location can influence a home's anti-quake capacity. The domicile will shake violently when its exposure is in the same direction with the trend of fault zone, and it's very likely to bring down the house. But when they meet at right angles, the destruction will have less impact. We must take this factor into account in our post-quake reconstruction work."

Pengzhou City is a good example, according to Wu. All the buildings of schools and hospitals at Pengzhou withstood the earthquake. In fact, more buildings collapsed overall in rural areas than in urban areas because rural buildings were not built according to code. "These rural buildings look like modern constructions yet they weren't built in accordance with the modern construction practices. They are pseudo-modern architecture," Wu noted.

"Urban planners must take responsibility. A good design can protect life and property, while a poor plan will be a threat to life and property. Solid designs are necessary both in both urban and rural areas," Wu emphasized.

Experts from Tong Ji agreed that resettlement and reconstruction work should be carried out in strict accordance with proven construction codes.

(China.org.cn by Xiang Bin, May 26, 2008)