Disaster House Is Designer Flatpack Crisis Shelter

With hundreds of people in the UK evacuated from their homes thanks to flooding, and the memory of natural disasters in the US and elsewhere still fresh in our minds, it's no surprise that designers' thoughts turn to sustainable, straightforward sources of shelter in times of crisis.  Gregg Fleishman's contribution is the DH1 Disaster House, consisting of multiple interlocking panels of resin-coated European birch.

Intended to be constructed without nails or glue, and taking very little time in comparison to traditional shelters, the 14-foot square unit has a raised floor brought 30-inches off the ground and just four points of contact with whatever slabs are being used as foundations.  It's not, however, designed to be waterproof on its own – just a stable structure – so you'll need to do some judicious covering with plastic sheeting or similar.

The DH1 actually looks like a luxury kid's playhouse, and considering the price – $22,000 – it's not an especially cheap option.  But imagine if the panels were made out of plywood rather than photo-friendly birch and you're closer to an eventual production version.

Gregg Fleishman [via bornrich]