Hex House, the solar home for disaster victims

Disasters, whether caused by nature or man, can be devastating to entire communities.  For many, the worst part can be finding proper shelter and living conditions in the aftermath.  Enter Hex House, a quickly-assembled, solar power home designed to get people back on their feet as soon as possible.

Architects For Society, the company responsible for the design, is known for designing housing options for these exact types of situations.  

“As a group of allied professionals from the US, Europe and the Middle East, AFS is a non-profit design practice with a mission to enhance the built environment of disadvantaged communities through innovative architecture and design,” says AFS.

So the Hex House is inexpensive, sustainable, and can be set up with ease, which makes it ideal for disaster situations.  But how is it better than current emergency shelters?The answer involves its permanence.  

The answer involves its permanence.  These units are not as temporary as your standard emergency shelters.  They have been designed to last and are considered more as long-term housing.

AFS says, “the basic building components are galvanized tube steel for the base, structural insulated metal panel for walls, floor and roof and can be customized with conventional interior and exterior finishes.”

“The Hex House is designed to be a scalable solution which is not only rapidly deployed and erected by unskilled builders but is also dignified with typical home amenities. The house is designed for displaced population such as refugees, natural/ manmade deserter emergency shelters and off the grid living. With passive and low tech features and durability of exterior shell and base, it can endure extended occupancy form 15 to 20 years. Most of all the flexibility of the system affords the end user the ability to personalize their living spaces both inside and out,”

If this design takes off it could be crucial in the reestablishment of disaster areas, offering those who are often abandoned, a reliable home for the foreseeable future.