Gallery: Ikea Develops a Smart Flat-Pack Shelter for Disaster Refugees

  • Image may contain Nature Building Housing Outdoors Shelter Rural Countryside and House
    01

    Ikea-rendering

    IKEA's flat-pack refugee shelter is meant to increase comfort for refugees in harsh climates. *Image: Ikea Foundation*
  • Image may contain Outdoors Nature Building Rural Countryside Shelter Housing Flooring and Indoors
    Rocco Nuri
    02

    shelter8

    The unit's square footage is double that of a tent. *Image: Ikea Foundation*
  • Image may contain Door
    03

    Shelter1

    The shelter is made from a special polymer that helps control temperature and increase privacy. *Image: Ikea Foundation*
  • Image may contain Furniture
    04

    shelter6

    A solar panel will provide electricity for a light and USB port that is inside each unit. *Image: Ikea Foundation*
  • Image may contain Door Dog House and Den
    05

    shelter4

    The units come in flat-pack boxes and take around four hours to construct — no tools required. *Image: Ikea Foundation*
  • Image may contain Building Nature Outdoors Rural Shelter Countryside Housing Farm Loft Barn and Flooring
    06

    shelter2

    The shelters are tall enough for standing room. *Image: Ikea Foundation*
  • Image may contain Door Building Housing and Toolshed
    07

    shelter3

    A current prototype. *Image: Ikea Foundation*
  • Image may contain Text Paper Ticket and Business Card
    08

    shelter5

    Flat-pack box. *Image: Ikea Foundation*
Read More
The Best Ski Clothes for Staying Warm and Having Fun
From weatherproof jackets and pants to puffers, gloves, and socks, WIRED’s winter sports experts have you covered.
Chris Haslam
The Best Automatic Litter Boxes Tested by Our Spoiled Cats
With these high-tech automatic litter boxes, gone are the days of scooping and smells. Welcome to the future.
Molly Higgins
The Best Apple Watch Accessories
You finally caved and bought an Apple Watch. These are our favorite bands, screen protectors, and chargers to go with your new smartwatch.
Adrienne So
The Best Fitness Trackers Check Your Sleep, Heart Rate, or Even Your Blood
With almost ten years of hands-on testing, WIRED knows what separates the best fitness trackers from the rest.
Adrienne So
Give Your Back a Break With Our Favorite Office Chairs
Sitting at a desk for hours? Upgrade your WFH setup and work in style with these comfy WIRED-tested seats.
Julian Chokkattu
These Are Our Favorite Standing Desks to Liven Up Your Workstation
Take your home office to new heights with our favorite motorized standing desks.
Nicole Kinning
The Best Merino Wool T-Shirts for Every Occasion
These merino wool tees are the last shirts you’ll ever wear. I’m wearing one right now.
Scott Gilbertson
Death to Dry Skin. These Humidifiers Are Better Than Chapstick
From models for traveling to humidifiers that double as planters or air purifiers, we've tested a dozen of them.
Matthew Korfhage
The Best Game Controller for Every Kind of Player
A great gamepad instantly levels up your play. These are our top picks for Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, and PC.
Brad Bourque
The Best Heart Rate Monitors Check Your Cardiac Health
These chest straps and watches will help you keep your finger on your pulse—and many other heart-related metrics.
Michael Sawh
The Best iPhone 17 Cases and Accessories—We’ve Tested More Than 100
Protect your expensive iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone Pro, or iPhone 17e with our favorite cases and screen protectors.
Julian Chokkattu
The 11 Best Electric Bikes for Every Kind of Ride
I tested the best electric bikes in every category, from commuters and mountain bikes to foldables and cruisers.
Adrienne So