Design for Emergency Shelter

introduction to my project

This project has been my first experience designing for a real-world problem, but it was a new and exciting opportunity.

I chose to do an emergency relief shelter for my design, as there are multiple wars happening, and it is a very real issue that has had an enormous effect on millions of people.

A key factor for me was being as light weight and as compact as possible. This makes it a lot easier for cargo planes and trucks to quickly dispatch, and is not an excessive burden or weight. However I also wanted the structure to be durable and protective. I wanted to include all this while keeping the key theme of sustainability.

Previously I have done a research project on sustainable architecture, so I wanted to incorporate materials that would not only fit the theme, but are 100% eco friendly.

In particular, wanted to use bamboo as it would fit the theme well and has lots of desirable properties.

Another key aspect of my design was rolling bamboo. This was inspired by bamboo blinds which roll up and rolling bathmats. This fits together with my theme of being compact and easy to transport.

Tinkercad

3D printer

Camera

First steps

I started by looking online at different emergency relief shelters. Many of them, were tents, however, I wanted my design to be more durable and provide more shelter, while still being easy to assemble and transport.

I also took inspiration from old air raid shelters that are local to me, and their shape

The main materials in this structure are bamboo which is 100% sustainable, steel which can easily be recycled, and a waterproof tarp like canvas fabric, which can be recycled into things like tents or canopy’s.

I used this classic tunnel/arch shape, as it is what I have seen from many shelters, and its shape is the most practical for its purpose. This shape is protective against attacks, and it deflects rain and withstands strong winds.

The structure is set up primarily by screws, as the framework and shells rely on being screwed into place. This allows it to be fairly easily set up and dismantled.

I made sure each part of my structure could pack away tightly, and the framework breaks down into lots of smaller sections, as do the outer shells. The fabric can be easily folded and the bamboo walls and floor can be rolled up

The framework is split into smaller parts for easier transport, which is ideal as it's compact and allows cargo trucks and planes to easily transport it.

It can be assembled easily and quickly, with minimal equipment needed, which is essential in a war zone. It is still strong and durable, and has a sturdy frame and good insulation.

Light weight steel frames

Horizontal poles for stability, these poles are in sets of 2 for easier transport.

Every arch is in 4 different sections so it is easier to transport 4m Poles slot into clamps and are fixed and screwed in place with to sets of screws for added stability and to make sure they are tightly held in place.

Every sleeve has a hook attached

facing the inside, this connects to an insulated and waterproof tarp.

Arch sections are bolted in a clamp but the horizontal pole slides through but is screwed in tighter

Diagonal bracing made of steel to add extra support and better stability to the frame, slots into a smaller sleeve and held in place by a screw

Materials

Made of Treated Flattened Bamboo

Shingles with Aluminium Bitumen composite, layered on eachother.

This treated bamboo is the perfect material as it's Termite, Borer, moisture and Fungus resistant and weather and ageing resistant.

Bamboo is also a very sustainable and Eco-friendly resource, and can be repurposed and recycled in lots of ways.

It has Smooth Surface glight weight, so it does not put too much weight on the framework. Bamboo provides good thermal insulation, helping to maintain temperature.

Previously 1 had done a research project on eco friendly architecture and I focused on researching some of the most useful sustainable building resources. Bamboo was a very major one and it was one of the first things that came to mind when I started this project.

Bamboo is also lightweight, so it is ideal for being easily transported quickly, which is essential for an emergency aid shelter.

overlapping structure-for added insulation and more protection. This structure also ensures that no rain water gets in as its slides straight off.

sand bags are added to the side for stability and protection. These protect against storms and flooding, and are a protective wall of defence.

These over lapping shells are in 4 or 2 sections that fold in for a more compact transport, yet they fold out to their full size which is then fitted on top of the arched framework They clamp onto the horizontal frames with a circular 7 clamp that opens out, then is shut and screwed tight around the pole. This is on the front side of each shell.

This gap in which the shell does not cover is partially in the ground as a 7lx5wx0.5H hole is dug (metres). This adds stability and added insulation

Each panel section is attached to eachother with a long hinge There are 3 layers of shells and The second and 3rd layers of shells then are screwed on top to ensure they stay in place

I was inspired by bamboo blinds to use a rolling up bamboo mechanism for the front and back. I wanted to continue to use bamboo as the main material, and I wasn't sure how I could encorperate it to the front and back walls, as it is an awkward shape and I wanted to keep my structure small and compact, and easy to transport. This bamboo mechanism is perfect as it can be cut into the shape of the arch, and can be rolled up so it is still compact. For the front a section would be cut out so that it is separate from the rest of the bamboo rods, so that it can roll up and act as an entryway, however when Let down it is the same as the rest of the bamboo wall.

It is Attached to a Lot of small hooks on the inner sides of the poles

Also to the front and back I would add a waterproof, tent-like door, held onto the structure by small hooks and held to the floor by pegs. I was inspired by how most tents have an extra door section, to add extra insulation and stability. This stabilises both sídes and also adds an extra level of insulation. It also is water proof and deflects water, which stops water or bacteria coming through the bamboo door.

This would be made of a strong canvas tent material, which is waterproof, mold proof and tear resistant. This means it is strong and will provide good insulation. Woven tightly or extruded from fibers like cotton, nylon or polyester but this material can easily be recycled into a tent or tarp once it is not needed for this structure. It is also lightweight and easy to transport.

In the inside of the structure, a large tent/ tarp would cover all of the frame work, spreading out covering the entire inside. It would be tightly stretched and would be suspended from small hooks on the inside of each pole in the framework. This adds an essential layer of insulation to the structure, and is also made of a waterproof tarp canvas material. It would cling to the framework and there would be a zip door at the entrance.

These photos are from the insides of tunneltents, which is very similar to what the inside of my structure would look like.

My structure is 5mx7m meaning it would be able to hold around 8-10 temporary hospital beds, allowing for a not too tight fit, but an efficient use of space, as well as the added storage for medical equipment.

For the floor of the structure, rows of foldable bamboo mats would be placed on top of the waterproof cover.

This is more sanitary and adds more structure to the room. They can be easily folded and packed away quickly

To create a visualisation, I built a model in Tinkercad. I chose Tinkercad as it is really easy to use. Although it is aimed at simple 3d model making it can be used effectively to produce an architectural visualisation.

The 'background' was created using a large flattened box coloured green. This was grouped with some flattened and stretched half spheres. The tree was created with a cylinder and 2 cones. The sky is a wide and tall box coloured light blue.

I constructed the shelter as shown in the drawings above. A doughnut shape was formatted and cut in half (by grouping with a 'void') to make the arches. The other supports are made from cylinders and groups of cylinders. Finally I modelled the roofing panels using the tube tool. I duplicated the elements to generate the finished structure

Within this scene a 3 model of the shelter can be placed and by clicking the Send To button (top left corner) an option to download a .png image is available.

I took several images from different viewpoints as a visualisation.

Clearly Tinkercad is not as powerful as purpose built software (Autodesk Revit) but is is very easy to learn and use and still clearly visualise the structure.

The really big advantage to using Tinkercad is that the .stl 3d model can be exported for 3d printing.

I 3d printed my shelter at 1/100th scale

I used a Creality Ender3 V3 with matte wood effect PLA filament

0.28mm layer height

I added the tent elements with orange tissue paper.

I took photographs against a plain backgrounds and in my garden.