In this dissertation, I conduct a reflection on the effects of disaster on time perceptions and their consequences on architecture as a vessel of social and individual values, through a study of two major paradigmatic disasters spaces – Post World War II Japan and Post-earthquake Haiti. While on the surface these two cases do not have many points in common, both are instrumental to establishing the manifestation of disasters' impacts on the culture of construction and on the architectural theories that ensue from them. The first case, Japan after the Second World War, establishes the long term influences and changes in social and architectural thought that occur after a disaster, while Haiti, examines the role of the architect in the reconstruction phases and attempts to register the immediate impressions of local architects on the disaster's impact on their practice. I show that both cases exhibit manifestations of the importance of the architect's role of not only building back, but moving forward while capitalizing on the events and social changes that happened. / Ph. D. / This dissertation reflects on the impacts of disasters on architecture and on the production of space. Through an analysis of the history of architecture in Post-World War Two Japan and the trends of architectural thought in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, this research has been able to establish linkages between the role of time and memory and the changes of architectural practices after destruction. In the case of Japan, the destruction caused by the Second World War triggered a change in the perception of the role of architects in social. It also allowed local Japanese architects to innovate and create an architectural language that translated the social changes that occurred in their country after the end of the Second World War. This caused a preservation of an active memory of the history and culture of Japan through new designs and buildings that propelled Japan in the forefront of contemporary architecture. Haiti on the other hand, is on the cusp of major changes in its cityscapes, after the 2010 earthquake. However, the building community (architects, engineers, etc.) needs support to strengthen its capacity to translate the local cultural values in the new climate of postearthquake Haiti.