Conceptual design methodology for foldable shelters

With the rapid changing in global climate and the resulting disasters, prefabricated and quick-to-install shelters can provide victims of disasters with the opportunity to survive harsh natural and man-made disasters. Seeking to cater for this need and to reflect the topic of the mobile sheltering system, this thesis focuses on the case study development of a prefabricated, modular mobile shelter, from emergency scenarios to the permanent phase. The purpose of this paper is to propose a lightweight foldable and modular shelter that can be considered for the post-disaster shelter response and can be replaced, upgraded in size and geometrical configuration, and stored in a very short period of time. Using the folding technique, the specific mobile shelter structure investigated in this study has the ability to transform from a compact closed-form to a large living space open form. The suggested structure of these shelters is incrementally expandable by adding more modular units to its ends and sides. Furthermore, this thesis examines the practicability of the proposed concept and structure systems through a literature review, design-based research and digital model development.