This program explores the critical period between emergency shelter and permanent reconstruction following major earthquakes in Türkiye (2023) and Japan (2011, 2024). Although disaster recovery is often described through short-, medium-, and long‑term phases, both countries demonstrate that these phases frequently overlap—and that a prolonged “in‑between” period has become the lived reality for many survivors. Through case studies presented by Prof. Ali Hocek and Prof. Toshihiko Abe, the session examines how residents adapt temporary housing over multiple years, how cultural and social networks support daily life, and how government policies and timelines shape (and sometimes hinder) recovery. The speakers will discuss emerging ideas such as a “fourth phase” of recovery: dignified, adaptable medium‑term housing that sustains daily life while communities rebuild. The program connects these international experiences to broader questions relevant to New York and other cities: housing shortages, aging populations, loss of public space, community fragmentation, and the need to rethink policy frameworks that govern reconstruction. By focusing on daily life, dignity, and community continuity, this session aligns with AIA New York’s 2026 Presidential theme, Repair: Democracy and Urban Space, and expands architects’ role beyond physical rebuilding toward long‑term social resilience.
