IKEA
Unveils Solar-Powered Flat Pack Shelters for Easily Deployable Emergency
Housing
by Lori Zimmer, 06/26/13
IKEA just
turned turned its flat pack sensibilities from the urban apartment to the
global village by unveiling a comfortable, solar-powered shelter that can provide emergency
housing for natural disaster victims and refugees. The flat pack homes were
developed in collaboration between theIKEA Foundation and the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR), and they can be set up in a
snap to provide immediate shelter for those in need.
Prior to the IKEA collaboration, the UNCHR was only able to
provide tents or converted mass-shelters for the influx of refugees into countries around the world. Now,
with IKEA’s help, these displaced citizens will not only have privacy and
comfort, but the dignity of having their own place.
IKEA’s shelters come flat packed, making for the easy transport of lightweight plastic shelters at once. Assembly of the 188 square
foot hut is easy and can be built in just four hours. Five people can sleep
comfortably inside, which is twice the size of the regulation refugee tent. The
best part, the homes have solar paneled roofing, allowing inhabitants to
generate their own electricity, extinguishing the need for candles or kerosene
lamps. The roof also helps to deflect solar reflection by 70%, keeping the
interior cool during the day and warmer at night.
The new IKEA/UNHCR shelters will make their first be deployed in
Ethiopia next month.
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