ETH Zurich to Launch "Home for Humanity" Emergency Shelter Platform

Platform converts decades of disaster shelter research into publicly accessible, step-by-step construction guides
Zurich, Switzerland - ETH Zurich will host a launch event on February 24th to introduce Home for Humanity, a web platform providing accessible, do-it-yourself emergency shelter designs developed through collaboration between ETH Zurich's Chair of Architectural Behaviorology, the Chair of the Theory of Architecture, and the nonprofit Fashion Girls for Humanity.

The event will bring together researchers and project collaborators to discuss how design, education, and community participation can support disaster preparedness and recovery.

Home for Humanity translates decades of emergency shelter research into practical construction guides that communities can use during displacement. The project team has examined more than 150 emergency shelter designs developed since the 1950s, converting them into step-by-step assembly instructions, drawings, and audio-supported materials. The platform currently features five shelter examples.

"Architects have long played a critical role in rebuilding after disasters, but this knowledge has rarely been shared in a form that communities can directly use. Home for Humanity puts these tools into people's hands," explains Kikka Hanazawa, co-founder of Fashion Girls for Humanity, a nonprofit partner in Home for Humanity. "Instead of waiting for nonprofits or foreign aid, families and local builders can begin the recovery process themselves. With AI-enabled multilingual support and text-to-speech functionality, the platform is designed to be accessible when and where it is needed most."

Early real-world use of the platform is already emerging. After wildfires damaged parts of the Pacific Palisades area, a 150-square-foot temporary shelter prototype designed as a low-cost emergency housing solution remained intact. Since late 2024, individuals in hurricane-affected regions of the United States have downloaded shelter plans from the Home for Humanity platform.

The initiative emphasizes environmentally sustainable construction methods and locally sourced materials to support resilient communities while reducing environmental impact.

Home for Humanity was informed by international research dialogue, including the "Designing with Disaster" symposium at Japan House Los Angeles, and by post-disaster rebuilding experience following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The Home for Humanity platform is available at: https://diyhomes.ai/

The Home for Humanity launch event will take place on Tuesday, February 24th, at 18:30 at ETH Zurich's HIL building. The evening will begin with an introduction and dialogue session in Lecture Hall E6 from 18:30 to 19:15, featuring Kikka Hanazawa, Laurent Stalder, and Momoyo Kaijima, along with invited guests Tom Avermaete, Fabio Gramazio, Hubert Klumpner, and Debora Mesa Molina. An apero reception will follow in the E7 foyer. https://kaijima.arch.ethz.ch/news/launch-event-home-for-humanity-website/

Media Contact
Company Name: Home for Humanity
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Website: https://diyhomes.ai/

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