Designing modular housing solutions
THE Ukrainian architecture firm Balbek Bureau has come up with a rapid response to the humanitarian crisis the country is experiencing as a result of war.
Today, just over 12 million Ukrainians have been forced to flee their homes since Feb 24, according to United Nations data, and more than half of them remain inside the country.
In response, Balbek Bureau architects have designed a modular and temporary housing system called “Re:ukraine” to help rehouse the millions of displaced people in decent conditions.
The system can be adapted to suit different types of land, site shapes or population density.
“The project’s goal is to maintain a dignified lifestyle for people who have been forced to leave their homes.
“The system is designed to be implemented in a short time frame: residents can move into the town in two to three months from the beginning of construction,” explains architect and founder of the bureau, Slava Balbek.
The project uses a basic 6.6m by 3.3m module that can accommodate private rooms, shared kitchen areas or sanitary facilities.
These modules are grouped together and can gradually form residential areas. These communities can accommodate more than 8,000 people, according to the firm.
Since 2015, five projects of this type have been implemented in Ukraine, including one in Kharkiv, where the housing zone covers an area of 3,060sq m.
With the war, the initiative has gained momentum among elected officials, businesses and architects, some of whom are now ready to start production.
The system could also be used in other areas of the world.