Disasters, both natural and man-made, are a reoccurring event in society, yet there is little being done to change the current approach to post-disaster shelter. Immediately following disasters, the people affected actively seek shelter and flock to nearby structures, such as school gymnasiums, community centers, or sports arenas, that remain standing. Rather than relying on aid services as a reactive solution for disasters, Shelter Squared is flat-packed, about the size of a full-size mattress, and stored on-site proactively to ensure relief is immediately available for any scenario. Most importantly, Shelter Squared addresses the lack of design that currently exists for post-disaster shelters and introduces a new dimension of design value that ensures a flexible living environment to support people in times of great distress.

Shelter Squared, taking less than 15 minutes to assemble, provides much more than a typical shelter. Units are constructed with lightweight, waterproof panels for easy maintenance and utilize Velcro connections to ensure simplicity of assembly. Each unit provides an operable fabric enclosure, clean floor, roomy sleeping quarters, lockable storage, and booth seating. Even with all these amenities, Shelter Squared occupies a modest 50 sq. ft. and can combine with adjacent units to keep loved ones, pets, and friends connected. Overall, the design utilizes cost-effective, recyclable materials to provide a meaningful alternative to the current standard of post-disaster shelters.

Photos by Buddy Bleckley