Designed by Architects for Society (AFS), a multinational non-profit design organisation, the Hex House is low-cost and easily deployable in the case of emergency. AFS has a “mission to enhance the built environment of disadvantaged communities through innovative architecture and design”.
The Hex House is a dignified, off-the-grid house, suitable for long stays. These units are designed to last for 20 years. The home is shipped in pieces and assembled by the end user with simple tools and no training required. The Hex House differs from other emergency shelters in that it is designed in a hexagonal shape and includes amenities such as running water and electricity.
Rainwater is collected through a gutter with a downspout that filters the water into a storage tank, which can then be used by manually pumping the water back into the house. Solar panels on the roof provide power for lighting and small electronics. AFS designed the house with these basic amenities to ensure that the residents maintained independence and dignity.
The hexagonal shape of the shelter was chosen for its inherent structural stability and for the degree of modularity that six sides offer. A single Hex House provides a compact two-bedroom home for a small family and two or more houses can be clustered together to form multi-unit residences.
AFS are currently running a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign to raise money to build a prototype of the Hex House.
