Collapse – A foldable housing solution for refugee concerns

Collapse – A foldable housing solution for refugee concerns

Sheltering the displaced

There is palpable chaos in human society when order breaks down. This is often the case, seen in conflict-ridden regions around the world. Unstable social, political, or environmental conditions force citizens to flee their nation land and seek refuge elsewhere. The number of such refugees, displaced over time, has been increasing at an alarming rate. The unrest or stigma in their home country is never-ending, hence they seek shelter in other nations.

More than 80 million people are forcibly displaced worldwide, of which 26.3 million people are refugees. The accommodation of most of these refugees is done by developing countries. The task at hand is to provide an immediate shelter that is safe and provides supplies for a short time. Even though the concept is temporary, most refugee camps are forced to exist, way beyond the time that they were planned for.

How can we negotiate for a better life for these refugees who do not belong anywhere?

A dynamic, flexible, and evolving form of design is to be extracted to create new standards for refugee settlements. The foldable house will be occupied for about 18-24 months by its users. The design must take into consideration the environmental context and its constraints.

The aim of the challenge is to encourage participants to rethink the design of a traditional refugee camp shelter and propose a type of foldable house that can be erected on a small plot of land in a short amount of time with the least manpower. The foldable house must be constructed using minimal resources.