Container and Modular Buildings

Refugees who are currently making their way across Europe urgently require places to live. In common with politicians, architects were also caught unawares by the largest wave of migration since the end of the Second World War. However, are tent cities and containers the only solution in creating cheap accommodation and a dignified home as quickly as possible for displaced persons? One issue for discussion is the need to question existing standards in relation to mass housing. Bold and unconventional ideas are called for if the intention is to steer the debate on temporary ­accommodation for refugees in a new direction offering high-quality solutions.

From eccentric experiments all the way to projects which have already been realised, international design teams present their work between the twin poles of ­unconventional developments and life-saving shelters in this compilation of case studies spanning more than 200 ­pages. Not all of these are applicable to the ­current refugee crisis, since that which digital nomads find hip constitutes harsh reality for others. Yet alongside playful follies, we can find miniature architectural ­structures for the homeless as well as out­patient ­medical stations which offer a response to social ­problems and space shortages. The photographic ­material puts forward ideas as to how more can be done than the mere assembling of containers. Should we not first consider notions ­bordering on the absurd in order to come up with a ­workable solution?