Disaster Relief Housing

The Disaster relief Housing is a modular, all-inclusive emergency housing system made from regular shipping containers that is easy to construct, cost effective to develop and very fast to deploy. It provides a basic level of comfort and privacy as well as all the basic necessities for victims in disaster areas.

The basic unit consists of a 20 feet container that is positioned on cinder blocks in order to provide ventilation and easy access to the underside of the unit. Through an opening in the roof, a rainwater collection system provides running water for the sink and shower while a mechanical stack vent exhausts warm air from the unit. A shading system protects the container from excessive heat gain and holes on both sides of the container provide ventilation and illumination for the interior of the unit. The container is painted with a highly insulating ceramic paint, which omits the need for bulky insulation.

An interior central utility core with sliding doors divides the space in four distinct areas while providing some privacy. Storage walls at both ends of the unit conceal the mattress and bedding during the day so that the space can double function as living and sleeping quarters.

Given that there is a vast supply of shipping containers available worldwide and that the transportation infrastructure is already in place, containers are an obvious choice for a fast and easily deployable emergency housing system. The metamorphosis of an empty shipping container into an emergency housing unit is fast and affordable and because the unit comes pre-packaged with all required emergency supplies, it is a complete, self-sustaining disaster survival package.