Living Shelter, an affordable capsule adapted for people living in South-East Asia suffering from natural disaster

The Living Shelter is an intelligent shelter solution inspired by traditional “kampong” houses in Southeast Asia and designed specifically for the climate, geography, and cultural habits of this region. Its features include openings that ensure natural ventilation, roof eaves to protect from sun and rainwater, and legs to elevate the liveable area from the ground. The engineering system provides sturdiness and adaptability to hot and humid weather conditions. More than just a shelter, Living Shelter responses to emergency and transitional phases. All components and systems can be easily dismantled and reused separately in an entire new building on a more durable term. The Living Shelter offers privacy and security, as well as basic needs such as electricity, water and furniture. It includes a water bag for water collection; a built-in solar panel on the roof to charge electronic devices and provide light; and built-in foldable furniture such as bed, hammocks, shelves and portable furniture. These are all conveniently flat-packed. A custom-made folding mechanism was also created to ensure that the overall structure works correctly without the need for tools or special training for installation. While the Living Shelter is being patented in Singapore, explorations of new technologies are on-going – such as 3D-printed and lightweight composite materials for the portable furniture system to increase stability without adding extra weight, as well as a focus on ergonomics to meet the end-users’ needs. The genuine concept of Living Shelter can be easily developed and adapted to other climate context, to a bigger space by combining several units, or to other programmes such as education, logistics or medical.