H_arbor Refugee Housing
2025 ECC Venice Biennale Time Space Existence 2025: Repair, Regenerate, Reuse
A collaboration with HandOver Projects
Rebuilding a warzone and sheltering displaced refugees takes an intensive level of care. It is important to have building solutions that are not limited to a certain location but can be repeated and applied in many cases to be more streamlined and efficient. H_arbor is an earth or rubble based structural support system for highly adaptable shelter that is used as a standalone or in series to provide the basis for hardened housing and community space. The H shaped support structure acts as an arbor for formal and informal additive building elements. The short to medium term shelter can be dispatched to many regions utilizing the adaptive creativity of the government, NGOs, and residences.
Due to the robust but simplicity of the design and utilization of materials, basic construction train-ing will optimize the effectiveness of local labor. With the provided steel roof support, lightweight commercial systems like canvas or sheet metal or vernacular wall and roofing systems can be applied. Based on a modular scheme a single unit can house two families with modular kitchen and restroom facilities that can be suspended from the core wall . When placed in series H_arbor provides larger protected spaces that are suitable for community and commercial purposes such as dining, retail, community centers, schools, and medical centers. Enhanced security can be built between H_arbor units while supplying natural light and ventilation.
Building with earth and rubble means that minimal external materials are needed to provide shelter to those affected. As these materials are available on-site, wherever it may be, the goal is then to teach the local population the process by which they can rebuild their communities and provide the required machinery or equipment and technical support. By incorporating Augmented Reality, the transition from modular design to the realities of on-site construction becomes much more seamless. Incorporating this technology into HandOver’s human-centered earth construction techniques can eliminate waste on-site while saving time and avoiding errors. Using this method, there is no need for drawings on site and speed and precision of construction work is significantly increased.
The building can be deconstructed with minimal impact in respect for national refugee treaties and regional needs. Given the complexity of housing populations in flux however, the structure will also serve as the core of more elaborate shelter as needed. The inherent durability and mass of the structure can support significant additions based on the occupant’s need and availability of materials for medium to extended use cases.
Contributers_
Dina Bahaa
Seleem Gaber
Cyrielle Lefebvre
Andrew Michler
Allan Pernot
Radwa Rostom