Resilient Construction Workshop | Smart Shelter Foundation

The next-generation shelter challenge.

Join a global community of students to design sustainable, lasting housing solutions that transform temporary disaster shelters into permanent homes.
2026 dates: March 14, 21, 28 - April 04

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About

The workshop.

Join our free, 4-day online workshop, “From Temporary Shelter to Semi-Permanent Homes”, and become part of a global community of up to 50 students.

You will work in international teams on real-life challenges: designing solutions to transform temporary disaster shelter into lasting homes for communities in need.

The workshop is spread across four Saturdays, offering you the flexibility to participate without a major time commitment.

For whom

University students of all disciplines related to Architecture, Engineering, Product Design, and Environmental Sciences

Where

Online, from the comfort of your own home or workspace

Duration

4 Saturdays, 3 hours per session, total of 12 hours.

What

[1]

You will learn and do.

[1]

You will learn and do.

Practical design thinking

Apply creative problem-solving methods to real humanitarian challenges and develop solutions that are both innovative and feasible.

Earthquake and flooding design

Understand non-engineered approaches for disaster resilience and learn practical ways to strengthen communities at risk.

Natural and waste materials

Explore sustainable construction techniques using locally available resources to create safe, affordable housing.

Why

You should join.

Gain a competitive edge

This hands-on experience is perfect for your portfolio and can lead to a meaningful thesis topic.

Showcase your skills

Earn a certificate of achievement and compete for an award for the best design concept.

Connect globally

Collaborate with students from around the world on a real-life problem.

How to apply

Submit your motivation letter to join our student workshop. Only 50 spots are available, and applicants will be carefully selected.

How to apply

Submit your motivation letter to join our student workshop. Only 50 spots are available, and applicants will be carefully selected.

Student feedback

Don’t take our word for it.

“

This workshop has been an incredible journey of knowledge, collaboration, and personal growth. I am honored to have been a part of this transformative experience and look forward to implementing the insights gained to make a tangible difference in humanitarian engineering and social design.

“

The workshop has greatly influenced my thinking about socially responsible architecture and humanitarian engineering. It has emphasized the importance of considering social, cultural, and environmental factors in design as well as community engagement.

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In my country we mostly use standard building materials such as concrete and steel. Also there is no conversation about pollution of the environment and Co2-emissions. After the workshop I feel we should focus more on trying to use natural materials, not just for the environment, but also for the people because it's much healthier.

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