They didn’t ask to be refugees: Eco-cycle shelters for forced climate migration

Climate and weather severe events together with political conflicts linked to climate change are the most driving force for mass population to leave their homes seeking safe heavens. Recent climate events showed that climate change is an increasing driver of forced displacement. Climate refugees are becoming and will be the next wicked challenges we will face. That means there is a need for quick and low-cost temporary shelters to host the mass forced migrants. Normally temporary humanitarian shelters are constructed with industrial materials that consume high amount of embodied carbon and energy in the production. They deteriorate quickly within couple of years and needs to be replaced leaving behind huge amounts of waste. Refugee temporary settlements should also be designed and constructed using means with minimal impact on the environment in order to prevent the mounting increase of climate change symptoms and reduce the associated humanitarian crises. Since long, alternative natural based low impact materials do exists using a carbon neutral production and construction process. This paper is presenting the outcome of one-year project in designing and constructing a minus carbon and plus energy eco-cycle home. The house prototype was designed following a participatory approach involving refugees in the design and construction process. The idea is to achieve a low impact design during construction and after demolition while providing refugees the chance to receive a training on construction methods. The design complies with premium passive house standards in Sweden. The net outcome of the building is negative carbon and plus energy. The project was implemented in Sweden but the methodology could be applied in different other climatic and geographical contexts.