Rhu: IKEA 'solar' huts for refugees

    Ikea in aid of refugees together with UNHCR. The famous Swedish company has in fact used its knowledge to help those who do not have a home. So the Ikea designers, always following the philosophy of 'practicality' that distinguishes the company, have created a more resistant and long-lasting shelter: RHU



    He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

    Ikea in aid of refugees together withUNHCR. The famous Swedish company has in fact used its knowledge to help those who do not have a home. So the Ikea designers, always following the philosophy of 'practicality.'that distinguishes the company, they devised a stronger and more durable shelter over time: RHU.



    To help the thousands of refugees forced to live over 10 years in tent cities around the world, the Ikea team has created RHU (refugee housing unit), a lightweight building with two doors. L'solar power guarantees night lighting through a cover that absorbs heat during the day and emits it when needed, for example during cold nights. All in 18 square meters of living space.

    But not only. THE roof panels of the housing units are made of the same sturdy plastic used in the construction of the doors. The material that covers the house instead is a new polymer called Rhulite which allows light to enter during the day, but does not show shadows when lit from within, at night. Finally, the solar panel that comes with the housing unit powers a lamp.

    The Swedish giant has already erected 13 innovative huts in the Ethiopian savannah at the Kobe refugee camp last August. The row of neatly arranged structures can be seen in comparison to the tents and shacks in the other areas of the camp.

    Rhu: IKEA 'solar' huts for refugees

    However, Rhu's aren't cheap yet. The cost for production it's about 7 thousand dollars, but Ikea is working to reduce it. The main advantage of this solution is what characterizes Ikea, namely the ease of transport. Rhu are available in FlatPack boxes and can be assembled in half a day, although some inhabitants of the camp they told that sometimes it took a whole day to get them on their feet.

    Rhu: IKEA 'solar' huts for refugees

    Many camp tents risk not withstanding the harsh desert climate, such as in refugee camps in Sudan and Ethiopia. Here within six months, Ikea hopes to install new Rhu capable of last at least three years.



    If IKEA huts can withstand the desert climate, they may soon offer refugees from all over the world a better home compared to traditional curtains. And according to UNHCR, some 3,5 million people still live in tents.


    Francesca Mancuso

    Photo: Ikea Foundation

    READ also:

    - Ioane Teitiota, the first refugee to seek asylum due to climate change

    - Bitle, the solar-powered tent for shelters temporary

    - Shelter Center: sustainable solutions to manage the emergencies ...

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