Getting Ready for Urban Reconstruction: Organising Housing Reconstruction in Bam

Abstract

Despite optimistic expectations of what a reconstruction programme should deliver, in the delivery of such expectations in practice proved difficult in general and more challenging within urban reconstruction. At present, there is a gap in theory or best practice for organising urban reconstruction at global level. Traditionally, organising complex reconstruction activities as multi-organisational activities within traumatic and complex contexts has been relying on the development of know-hows on a trial and error basis at international level. An example is the development of know-how on organising reconstruction in Iran. As a result of organisational continuity and extensive reconstruction experience Iran was able to apply lessons from each reconstruction to the next. This led to a set of broad reconstruction policies. The Bam reconstruction, after the disastrous earthquake on 26th December 2003, was, however, the first in its kind after such experiences. It was a relatively large city, suffered from heavy human losses in a concentrated zone; it was a historic organic garden city with traditional architectural characteristics. The Bam housing reconstruction programme pursued three objectives: people would be mobilised and participate; buildings would be earthquake resistant; and designs would safeguard the cultural identity and architectural fabric that Bam was famous for. This chapter examines organising post-disaster housing reconstruction programme in the Bam urban context from the perspective of organisation theory. It advances theoretical knowledge on organising urban reconstruction and leads to improvements in organising reconstruction activities in practice. The Bam case presents both strengths and weaknesses that potentially inform other reconstruction cases too.