These Igloos Are Designed to House People After Disasters

This spaceship igloo could be the future of post-disaster housing in South America. Created by students at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, La Matriz (“the womb”) is a portable aluminum home designed to be deployed when a natural disaster forces people out of their homes, Curbed reports.

The domed structure consists of a metal scaffolding and petal-like flaps that fit together to form walls. It’s lined with foam insulation, and some of the aluminum petals remain slightly open to provide air flow and temperature control. The shelters can be packed flat in the back of a truck or shipping container or carried by a helicopter, making them easy to transport to isolated or mountainous regions. Once they reach their destination, the igloos can be assembled in four hours. Each can house up to eight people.

Fresh air flows through openings in the side of the shelter, and hot air flows out through the top.

The shelters were specifically designed for coastal Peru, a rugged region vulnerable to natural disasters, where many people live in self-built homes. However, the design could also be deployed in other places where people need temporary shelter.

[h/t Curbed]

All images by courtesy of Pontifical Catholic University of Peru via Plataforma Arquitectura