Ikea’s Newly Designed Refugee Shelters Are a Game Changer

Monday, April 13, 2015

Refugee camps across Iraq are about to get a Swedish touch.

The United Nations’ refugee agency just ordered 10,000 shelters designed by Ikea, its largest corporate partner. They are set to be shipped out and built this summer. Produced by Better Shelter, a social enterprise started by the Ikea Foundation, the design marries form, function, and sustainability. One shelter can last an average of three years, compared with traditional tents, which typically last only a few months.

Each shelter is fitted with solar panels, mosquito nets, lights, and ventilation, reports news site IRIN. There are also lockable doors, a key feature, as lack of privacy at refugee camps can leave women and children vulnerable to sexual assault. Prototypes were previously tested among 40 refugee families in Iraq and Ethiopia. The structures offer extra space—they’re 57 feet square and six feet tall—allowing family members to stand upright in the space, as opposed to crouching or lying down in tents.

“The refugees have been involved in the process from the beginning,” Anders Rexare Thulin, managing director of Better Shelter, told IRIN. “We have received regular feedback from families living in the structures, and we made sure we incorporated their comments in our design.”

Source: TakePart (link opens in a new window)

Categories
Energy, Environment
Tags
social enterprise, solar