Global Village Shelters

nnovative design meets humanitarian need with wind resistant, fire retardant, biodegradable, sturdy triple-wall corrugated cardboard Global Village Shelters. Flat packed and costing about $500, these transitional “homes” assemble in 15 minutes without tools, last up to 12 months, and offer greater comfort and security than the standard tents used to house people during natural disasters and global emergencies. At 67 square feet each, the shelters can be interlocked to form larger structures for clinics and other community structures. First introduced in 2004, the shelters gained notoriety when they were used during the reconstruction of Grenada after Hurricane Emily devastated the region. They were also used in 2005 to house earthquake victims in Pakistan; shelters were used for both individual homes and also small village settlements for orphans and widows. The shelters were exhibited at New York’s Museum of Modern Art in 2006 as part of their SAFE exhibition and are now part of the MOMA’s permanent collection