A 24-year-old Australian social entrepreneur by the name of Alastair Pryor had a brainwave when he encountered a homeless man in the Melbourne CBD, and that led him to create a foldable shelter that everyone could use.
Named the “Compact Shelter”, this recyclable, wind and rain resistant portable dwelling could soon become an essential tool for overseas aid relief.
It is designed to be put together or folded down into a flat pack in under two minutes. It can fit up to four people, allowing families to stay together in crisis situations while having some privacy.
This shelter weighs a mere 35 pounds and is made from a UV stabilized polypropylene. It is also equipped with manually-controlled air vents, so while it keeps the elements out, it also maintains a stable environment inside the shelter.
When fully erected, the shelter measures 6.5 x 6.5 x 6.5 feet. It can be connected with other Compact Shelters to create a larger space.
They are currently costed at US$150 per unit and each unit can be flat-packed to a mere size of 79 x 40 x 2.75 inches.
Find out more about Compact Shelter by writing to them here.
[via PSFK]