Ikea has designed an amazing new shelter for refugees

It can last up to three years, while current UN tents only last about six months due to harsh weather conditions.

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EARLIER THIS YEAR, the UN’s Refugee Agency ordered 10,000 shelters for refugee families around the world.

But these aren’t any ordinary shelters.

These were designed by Ikea and built by Better Shelter, a social enterprise run by Ikea’s non-profit foundation, to help refugees fleeing violence and conflict by “putting their needs at the heart of the development process”.

These Ikea-designed shelters are safer, more durable, more cost effective, and generally bigger and more useful than the tents the UN typically uses for refugees.

Take a look at how they work.

Ikea’s Better Shelters can last up to three years. In contrast, current UN tents only last about six months due to harsh weather conditions.

ikeas-better-shelters-can-last-up-to-three-years-in-contrast-current-un-tents-only-last-about-six-months-due-to-harsh-weather-conditions

The shelters are composed of three individual parts — the frame, the panels, and a photovoltaic system for lights and power — which are easy to assemble, disassemble and reuse.

the-shelters-are-composed-of-three-individual-parts--the-frame-the-panels-and-a-photovoltaic-system-for-lights-and-power--which-are-easy-to-assemble-disassemble-and-reuse

The photovoltaic system is housed on the shelter’s roof, and it’s powered by the sun.

the-photovoltaic-system-is-housed-on-the-shelters-roof-and-its-powered-by-the-sun

These self-standing shelters can be built without needing any extra tools or equipment.

these-self-standing-shelters-can-be-built-without-needing-any-extra-tools-or-equipment

There’s 57 square feet of space inside these shelters, which are also six feet tall so people can stand upright.

theres-57-square-feet-of-space-inside-these-shelters-which-are-also-six-feet-tall-so-people-can-stand-upright

Ikea ships these shelters in two giant cardboard boxes, which can each be lifted by four people, according to Better Shelter.

ikea-ships-these-shelters-in-two-giant-cardboard-boxes-which-can-each-be-lifted-by-four-people-according-to-better-shelter

Construction can take anywhere between four and eight hours.

construction-can-take-anywhere-between-four-and-eight-hours

Each shelter comes with flexible, lockable doors, aimed at protecting families from intruders and sexual assault.

each-shelter-comes-with-flexible-lockable-doors-aimed-at-protecting-families-from-intruders-and-sexual-assault

Since the shelter lacks ropes or wires to keep it tethered, these shelters include ground anchors to help withstand strong winds.

since-the-shelter-lacks-ropes-or-wires-to-keep-it-tethered-these-shelters-include-ground-anchors-to-help-withstand-strong-winds

Shelters come with four windows and two ventilation openings, which are all adjustable and come with mosquito nets.

shelters-come-with-four-windows-and-two-ventilation-openings-which-are-all-adjustable-and-come-with-mosquito-nets

The lightweight foam panels on the sides of the shelter can withstand all the elements, including rain, wind, snow and the sun.

the-lightweight-foam-panels-on-the-sides-of-the-shelter-can-withstand-all-the-elements-including-rain-wind-snow-and-the-sun

“Putting refugee families and their needs at the heart of this project is a great example of how democratic design can be used for humanitarian value,” Ikea Foundation’s head of strategic planning said about these shelters.

putting-refugee-families-and-their-needs-at-the-heart-of-this-project-is-a-great-example-of-how-democratic-design-can-be-used-for-humanitarian-value-ikea-foundations-head-of-strategic-planning-said-about-these-shel

All images: BetterShelter.org

You can learn more about Better Shelter here.

- Dave Smith/Tech Insider

Read: Banksy’s theme park taken apart to build refugee shelters

Read: US politicians just voted to make it almost impossible for refugees fleeing ISIS to come to America

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63 Comments

Just Chief Now 12y

Install the app to use these features.

Mute Just Chief Now

Favourite Just Chief Now

Dec 10th 2013, 12:42 PM

Ok im lost, but how do you get into photo sphere mode on an android phone?

Darragh Flynn 12y

Mute Darragh Flynn

Favourite Darragh Flynn

Dec 10th 2013, 12:44 PM

Your Android phone needs to be running 4.2 Jellybean to have the built in Photosphere function. If you have 4.2 it should be under the camera shooting options (eg. Video, panorama etc) in the camera app.

Hope that helps!

Dec 10th 2013, 12:48 PM

Helps alot Darragh because ive been scratching my head for the last 15mins searching for it. Thanks for that

See 1 more reply ▾

John Ó'Ríordán 12y

Mute John Ó'Ríordán

Favourite John Ó'Ríordán

Dec 10th 2013, 5:23 PM

I don’t have a stock camera. The camera I have is skinned by the manufacturer. Any idea how to get a stock camera with this function?

Barry 11y

Mute Barry

Favourite Barry

Dec 11th 2013, 7:31 AM

I’m sending in a 360 degree panorama of my bollocks

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