5 innovations that can help those in crisis

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Innovation Snapshot
5 innovations that can help those in crisis

5 innovations that can help those in crisis

Innovation Snapshot

With #WorldHumanitarianDay in mind, discover innovations that can help out in periods of crisis

This 19th August is #WorldHumanitarianDay, a day that advocates a universal effort to advocate for the survival, well-being, and dignity of people affected by crises. This year’s theme focuses on all the volunteers, professionals, and crisis-affected people who provide urgent services such as shelter, food, water, and healthcare.

With this in mind, we’ve pulled together some of our top innovations that can help during a crisis.

Photo source: COPY RIGHT-HARIRI & HARIRI ARCHITECTURE

1. REFUGEE SHELTERS THAT POP UP AT THE PUSH OF A BUTTON

The New York-based architecture firm Hariri & Hariri developed a prefabricated folding pod that can be constructed without any hardware or tools. The Iranian sisters Gisue and Mojgan Hariri drew on their own experience of losing a home when they designed the pod. Modelled after the Japanese art of origami, the pods arrive flat-packed and unfold instantly at the push of a button to create a 500 square-foot single-storey unit. Pods can also be linked together to create larger units.

The pod uses prefabricated modular construction and hinged, folded panels to facilitate the shipping and assembly process. The panels are constructed from glass and Equitone panels (a fibre-based cement) and create a lightweight structure that lets in light and air for natural ventilation and is very adaptable.

2. CONSTRUCTION COMPANY USES COFFEE WASTE TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE HOUSING

Many construction companies are now looking at ways to make their work more sustainable, and a Colombia-based construction company is one of the latest. Woodpecker WPC is using waste coffee husks to build affordable, eco-friendly housing for local communities. Coffee is widely available in Colombia, which is the world’s third-largest coffee producer, inspiring the company to use coffee husks for its strong and dry properties. During the coffee roasting process, the dried skin on a coffee bean, known as the husk, falls off and is usually dumped in a landfill, which releases methane.

Woodpecker has now taken that waste from the coffee production process and recycled it into lightweight composite blocks that can be used for construction. These blocks can be easily assembled without the need for any specialised training or tools, making the building process a quick one. Made solely from coffee husks and plastic-based boards and steel frames, the prefabricated buildings can be easily transported to rural and difficult-to-access areas, with a construction time that takes less than a week.

3. A PLATFORM CONNECTS UKRAINIAN REFUGEES WITH US SPONSORS

Since the start of the current Russian invasion of Ukraine, people around the world have been welcoming refugees fleeing the conflict. In the US, the ‘Uniting for Ukraine’ programme offers Ukrainians a pathway to permanent residency if they are sponsored by a US citizen.

A new platform called Welcome Connect makes it easy for US citizens to connect with Ukrainian refugees who lack an existing connection to a sponsor.

The site, which was developed with support from Goldman Sachs, ServiceNow, Infosys, and the Breakthrough Prize Foundation’s Tech for Refugees initiative, is designed to be safe and easy to use. The goal is to give vulnerable Ukrainians agency while ensuring that US sponsors have a positive experience.

4. SOCIAL ENTERPRISE TEACHES COMMUNITIES TO BUILD SUSTAINABLE HOUSES

Échale uses Ecoblocks to construct new houses. This is an adobe-based building system that uses local materials and is produced on-site using cold processes – so no power is required to produce them. Échale teaches community members to make the blocks and to build houses using them. At the same time, the company pays workers to produce Ecoblocks and works with partners to provide financing to unbanked families, so that they can purchase building materials.

Échale does not stop at construction but works together with municipal, state and federal governments to ensure that all homes have access to basic electricity, water and waste management services. The civil society organisation not only generates employment but promotes sustainable development and helps people to build their own housing, with the understanding that “there is no better housing supervisor than the one who is going to live there,” according to founder Francesco Piazzesi.

5. AN ARCHITECTURE FIRM IN KYIV CREATES COMFORT-FIRST, MODULAR SHELTERS FOR UKRAINIAN REFUGEES

The need for emergency shelters in Ukraine has increased exponentially as a result of the country’s invasion by Russia. In response, architect Slava Balbek began designing new housing for people forced to flee their homes.

After convening a team of 10 architects at his company, he began to work on designs for refugee shelters that could be built quickly. The team analysed 20 existing models from around Europe before deciding on its final product – which is tailored to suit Ukraine’s cold climate.

The shelter’s design is modular, with small units that can be arranged in configurations that cater for different numbers of people – from as few as 50 to hundreds. Some configurations feature communal bathrooms, kitchens, and green space, while others have room underneath them dedicated solely towards playgrounds and sports fields.