Future Now
The IFTF Blog
The Hexayurt Project: Reinventing relief camps
April's IFTF FutureCast focused on the Hexayurt Project, an innovative low-cost sheltering solution for refugees of climate change and political unrest. Research Affiliate Jerry Michalski spoke with Hexayurt creator, Vinay Gupta on April 1 about his vision to reinvent the refugee camp.
The project is based on work begun at the Rocky Mountain Institute. The approach is focused on "autonomous buildings" to provide a temporary family unit that includes shelter, water purification, composting toilets, stoves, and solar-electric lighting. Hexayurt units are open-source, modular, cost approximately $100, and can be built in an afternoon.
Hexayurts are uniquely positioned to help in the wake of a disaster. They are semi-permanent and moveable, meaning refugees can set up camp in a hexayurt wherever they find space, then once the land is clear, the hexayurt can be moved back to their home property to live in while they rebuild.
The Hexayurt FutureCast audio file will be available here in the next couple of weeks, to find out more about the Hexayurt Project, visit hexayurt.com