This study aims to develop and operationalise the culturally adaptive resilience design (CARD) framework to address critical gaps in temporary flood shelter design by integrating cultural adaptation, user participation, psychosocial resilience and sustainable development goal (SDG) localisation within a building information modelling (BIM)-enabled workflow.
An exploratory qualitative design was adopted, involving semi-structured interviews with twelve former residents of temporary flood shelters in Malaysia. Thematic analysis identified user needs and priorities, which were then mapped onto the CARD framework and translated into quantifiable design parameters for parametric BIM modelling, enabling automated generation of culturally and contextually responsive shelter layouts.
Four key themes emerged: (1) privacy and dignity, (2) space limitations and usability, (3) vulnerable group needs and cultural considerations and (4) safety, healthcare, and utilities. BIM-enabled parametric templates successfully embedded modular partitions, scalable layouts, gender-sensitive zoning and accessibility features, supporting rapid, data-driven decision-making in humanitarian contexts.
The study focuses on a single national context with a modest sample, limiting generalisability; future research should test the CARD–BIM model across diverse disaster and cultural settings.
The CARD–BIM operational model offers a replicable approach for integrating cultural and social dimensions into rapid-deployment shelter planning, providing value for humanitarian agencies, governments and design practitioners seeking to enhance shelter usability, acceptance and sustainability under time-critical conditions.
This research bridges user-derived qualitative insights with data-rich BIM processes, advancing both theoretical understanding and practical tools for culturally adaptive, resilient shelter design.
