or1012845-broschyr a home away from home - better shelter · better shelter is a groundbreaking...

A homeaway from home

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Better Shelter is a groundbreaking example of collaboration, technical innovation and practical application. The Better Shelter is an innovative temporary shelter, designed as a result of a research and development project undertaken by UNHCR, IKEA Foundation and Better Shelter.

Creating better homes for emergency relief and beyond

Interior of a Better Shelter prototype in Kawergosk Refugee camp, Erbil, Iraq



The temporary shelter is composed of several basic elements, including a lightweight steel frame, roof and wall panels, door and windows, floor covering, solar energy system (lamp and telephone charge) and an anchoring system.

Prototypes have been tested and evaluated by UNHCR with respect to the personal, social and cultural expectations of the people that it aspires to rehabilitate, as well as the environmental, logistic and financial framework it is designed for.

BetterShelter

5680 mm223.6 inch

2830 mm 111.4 inch

3320 mm 130.7 inch

Better Shelter – exploded view



Specifications Metric US standard

Floor area 17.5 m2 188.4 ft2

Minimum ceiling height 1,840 mm 72.4 inch

Sphere compliant Yes

Windows 4 pieces (640 cm2 each) (99.2 inch2)

Ventilation 2 pieces (620 cm2 each) (96.1 inch2)

Door 1 piece (740 × 1690 mm) (29.1 × 66.5 inch)

Expected lifespan 3 years with basic maintenance

Fire safety Tested and classified according to international building standards EN ISO 11925-2:2010 and EN 13823:2010

Resistance to UV load 2,700h UVA – 100% functionality

Wind speed [EN 1991 EC1] 18 m/s 40.3 mph

Snow loads [EN 1991 EC1] 10 kg/m2 2 lb/ft2

Modular Yes

PV system 4h light/day and USB power

Package weight / volume

Package A

Package B

160 kg/1.15 m3

1990 × 1090 × 240 mm (85 kg)

1990 × 1090 × 290 mm (75 kg)

352.7 lb/40.6 ft3

78.3 × 42.9 × 9.5 inch (187.4 lb)

78.3 × 42.9 × 11.4 inch (165.4 lb)

Pallet dimensions 2010 × 1080 × 140 mm 79.1 × 42.5 × 5.5 inch

Container 40 feet HC 48 shelters

Container 40 feet 36 shelters

Temporary shelter with three years

expected product life cycle. Can be dis assembled and reused, does not

require any concrete slab or foundation.

Flat packed in two boxes, all parts and

tools included.

Field tested in Ethiopia and Iraq by some of the world’s

most vulnerable families, putting their experience and needs

at the heart of the development process.



Creating more valueEvery year, millions of people lose their homes and possessions in conflicts and natural disas-ters. Many seek refuge in humanitarian camps for access to shelter, food and clean water. Many stay for years – even generations – with little opportunity to influence their situation and create a safe environment for family and friends. The emergency shelter becomes a home. The need for temporary housing is growing each year – this means we either need more money or create more value for the money spent.

BetterShelter.org – A social business Better Shelter’s mission is to develop and pro-vide improved housing solutions for the millions of people who have lost their homes during conflicts and natural disasters. Better Shelter is a social enterprise with entrepreneurial energy and market discipline, aiming to achieve social change at scale in a financially self-sustainable way. Every dollar generated in profit is reinvest-ed within the company or distributed to Better Shelter’s philanthropic owner, the Housing for All Foundation.

Above: Assembly of Better Shelter Prototype, Hilawyen Refugee camp, Dollo Ado, Ethiopia.

Right: Hussein with daugh-ters and grand daughter, Kawergosk Refugee camp, Erbil, Iraq March 2015.

Partners: Company:

Better Shelter is brand of Refugee Housing Unit RHU AB – reg. no. 556870-2913 – registered office in Stockholm, Sweden.



“The place, where my wife and children are, and where we all eat together and sleep, is my home. There is a door to open, no need to bend, and you can open a window like in a real house.”

Hussein, Syrian Refugee in Kawergosk Refugee camp, Erbil, Iraq, 9 July 2014. Interview by Liene Veide, Associate Public Information Officer, UNHCR Erbil, Iraq.

“Of course we can’t compare this housing unit with our real home back in Syria, but there is a huge difference compared to living in a tent, […] We consider this our house now.”

Noveldin, Syrian refugee in Kawergosk refugee camp, Erbil, Iraq, 9 July 2014. Interview by Liene Veide, Associate Public Information Officer, UNHCR Erbil, Iraq.

BETTER SHELTER, TELEFONVÄGEN 30, 11TH FLOOR, SE-126 26 HÄGERSTEN, SWEDEN, TEL: +46 (0)8 645 30 10, [email protected]

In July 2013 Better Shelter and UNHCR launched a pilot program of 50 prototypes to be tested by refugee families in Ethiopia and Iraq. The feed-back from the refugee families have been used to inform the design and find improvements.



or1012845-broschyr a home away from home - better shelter · better shelter is a groundbreaking...

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