The proposal involved creating a modular tent system for temporarily housing refugees after a disaster. The system developed is very simple and is very easy for refugees to set up and use. Since bamboo can be grown around the world and be ready to use very quickly, tents can be built ahead of time and stockpiled in case of a disaster.

Refugees would receive a folded tent that can house two people. Once unfolded, it is very easy to tighten and begin using the tent. The tents can also be attached to each other to create small clusters : the shape of the tent is hexagonal, allowing the formation of a semi-circle when clustered, which also allows it to be a wind-break.

Emergency Shelter

The shelter was designed with identical bamboo pieces and simple joints requiring no cutting to make it easier to assemble. Bamboo is a good material for emergency shelters, because it can be grown almost anywhere, stockpiled locally, and once enough material has been stockpiled, the additional bamboo can be used by people to make other items for income purposes.

Transitional Housing

The concept for this transitional housing unit was based on the idea that temporary or displacement housing changes over time, and eventually become permanent housing. In the first stage of the process, the container is a temporary host for portable architecture. Upon reaching the end of the site’s cleaning process, the container has acted as a long term dwelling for the residents. Containers are modular in nature, enabling the container-building’s structure to change through time and adapt to the spatial needs of the occupants.

The objective of this project was to provide easy transportable housing units, create accessible options, provide flexible spaces, and provide multiple sleeping spaces for families.

2 sizes of containers were used  and transformed as emergency forms of housing. These transitional containers can then become apart of a permanent house by being moved to permanent foundations. Permanent houses are built around a container and the space above it can be used for storage and utility units.

The traditional American Indian tipi was used as an inspiration for this shelter due to its pyramid shape which uses triangulation for structural strength, especially against wind. Its speed of construction and low construction material requirement are significant as well.