In refugee camps, shelter is often provided by tents and containers, but in the future, these could be replaced by 21-square-metre wooden buildings created in Finland, thanks to the Kerake project implemented by the Seinäjoki Urban Laboratory of the University of Tampere together with timber companies in the South Ostrobothnia region. The Arbo shelter provides temporary accommodation for 4-6 people and can also be converted into a permanent dwelling.
Sustainable solutions are necessary because up to 39% of global carbon emissions are generated by construction activities and buildings. It is well known that wood is an ecological material, and the starting point for the Kerake project was to promote low-carbon construction.
“Regarding the carbon dioxide footprint and especially the impact on the environment, a wooden building is in a league of its own compared to the metal containers widely used as shelters,” says the building's designer, architect Mari-Sohvi Miettinen (Mari-Sohvi Miettinen) from the University of Tampere.
Ms Miettinen's assertion is based on a carbon footprint calculation and comparison conducted by the project manager Virpi Palomäki (Virpi Palomäki) based on this building concept. Wooden buildings have several positive qualities. In addition to low carbon emissions, they are an example of the sustainable use of forests. “A purposefully chosen wooden building has the potential to be a great solution in terms of environmental, economic and social sustainability when accommodation is needed during and after a crisis,” says the architect.
The price of one Arbo structure ranges from €3,000 to €15,000 depending on the choice of materials and equipment.
Excellent adaptability
When staying in a camp for a long time, factors such as safety, privacy, clean water and food become more important. One may also need to consider schooling and studies, work, and contact with authorities.
According to Ms Miettinen, one of the main advantages of Arbo wooden shelters is their adaptability. People can spend years or even decades in a camp, even if both refugees and camp staff would prefer the stay not to be permanent.
Arbo shelter
The pitched roof of the Arbo shelter leaves more space in the loft above the smaller alcove. If solid wood is used, the wooden surface can be visible on the inside.
“Studies show that people are keen to modify temporary housing to suit their individual needs, even if they know the stay will be short-term or if the dwelling is not intended for adaptation,” the architect explains. She also highlights that a wooden building can be given a new external cladding or a veranda. As circumstances change, the wooden shelter or its parts can be incorporated into a new, permanent home.
“In this respect, timber structures offer interesting solutions,” notes Mari-Sohvi Miettinen.
Reuse is even more attractive when you consider that, as a long-lasting timber structure, the shelter will also act as a carbon store throughout its existence.
Wood reduces stress levels
Ms Miettinen knows that our understanding of how wood materials affect human health and well-being is constantly growing. Wood is considered an attractive material. It is warmer to the touch than, for example, metal or glass, and has pleasant acoustic properties. In addition, wood maintains a more even level of humidity indoors.
“It has been found that wood materials have a positive effect on stress levels and the ability to concentrate. This means they could be particularly suitable for the housing of people who have experienced high levels of anxiety and stress due to conflict or disaster,” muses Mari-Sohvi Miettinen.
In principle, Arbo shelters can be used anywhere, although wood-destroying insects may limit their use in tropical regions. In colder climates, the shelters must be equipped with heating.
“However, further away from the equator, we are likely to need other sources of energy as well. It is indeed important to develop and support cooking methods that do not require the burning of locally sourced wood,” believes Mari-Sohvi Miettinen.
Another significant aspect is sanitation, which requires knowledge of local cultures. The Kerake project has studied a system developed by the Finnish company DTS Finland that can turn sanitary waste into fertiliser, thereby supporting local food production in regions suffering from crisis.
“We have developed several versions of the shelter with a dry toilet either indoors or in a separate building outside. The building is large enough to accommodate a shower cubicle. A method of application for cross-laminated timber [CLT] has already been developed that also allows it to be used in wet rooms. Not having to share toilets or washrooms is very important, especially in refugee camps and in regard to the safety of women and children,” the architect explains.
Not everything has to be decided in advance
Life in refugee camps and, consequently, the use of Arbo shelters as housing can also create problems. In Ms Miettinen's view, those in need of help may also not be very satisfied if they have few opportunities to influence matters related to their accommodation and if everything has already been decided in advance.
“It is important that people can feel they belong and have the opportunity to have a say about their home as soon as the situation permits,” notes Ms Miettinen. She says that the project team wanted the building concept to have an “architecturally convincing look” so that it would stand out from other options. However, the final design was not quite that simple. One of the problems encountered was determining the size of the windows.
“We were told that the design looked too expensive, so stakeholders might reject it. We also interviewed a worker from a refugee organisation who mentioned that, for political reasons, a modest appearance of the housing is often preferred,” says Ms Miettinen. Safety factors were also mentioned.
“We made the appearance less conspicuous and tried to achieve hidden potential and adaptability: larger windows and external cladding can be modified later when the crisis is no longer so acute,” explains Mari-Sohvi Miettinen.
Wars and crises have had an impact on architecture before. Finns are familiar with the pitched-roof single-family houses that were designed for the post-war reconstruction period in the late 1940s. The demand for these houses was greater than the capacity of the Puutalo Oy company.
There is no need to compete with tents
Mari-Sohvi Miettinen sees the commercial potential of the Arbo shelter, although from the perspective of humanitarian aid organisations, these high-quality Finnish products may be too expensive.
“With limited resources, people usually prefer a lower standard in order to help as many people as possible,” notes the architect.
It can be difficult for Finnish companies to gain a foothold in the international market and reach those players who could supply products to buyers. Regarding commercialisation, Ms Miettinen believes that the weak point is finding good contacts and establishing oneself in a market that is extremely saturated. “It is important to determine what is the most appropriate way to use these wooden dwellings: they cannot compete with, for example, the price and installation speed of tents. It is possible that small structures based on the sustainable use of forests could appeal to market players who want to find a comprehensively sustainable way to provide a new home for people who have lost their homes,” believes the architect.
Mari-Sohvi Miettinen also points out that several Finnish companies are capable of producing buildings such as Arbo shelters, even in significant volumes and on short notice. “Ultimately, it is a very simple product. It is important to understand how complex it is to provide accommodation for refugees and to figure out how you could help in this area,” muses Ms Miettinen.
She says that the information obtained during the project has been formulated as a conceptual plan. The concept includes the idea that the shelter can be adapted as needed over time, including in terms of building technology and equipment.
“The concept is still far from being a real product. Product development will only make sense when there is more detailed information about the target country and the standards suitable for the customers,” explains Mari-Sohvi Miettinen.