Taking Back Control: Issues and Benefits of Bottom-up Redevelopment

Much critique has been directed towards top-down community and housing redevelopment models. Yet top-down approaches continue to be the preferred development models of government and donor organisation. This paper explores post disaster redevelopment models, bottom up approaches and a local community led housing development. Using a case study approach, the paper presents the situation of an ethnic minority fisher community in Thailand after the 2004 Asian Tsunami and the outcomes of top-down and bottom-up rebuilding approaches on their living environment, recovery and lives. The aim of the paper is to discuss the processes that led to the outcomes of the case studies and identify how recovery and empowerment can be facilitated through community engagement.