GAMMA - Disaster Relief through Urban Design

What specific problem are we solving?

As of this writing, Morocco has tragically been struck by a deadly earthquake, resulting in the loss of thousands of lives, a number that continues to rise daily. Earlier in 2023, earthquakes devastated the regions between Turkey and Syria, claiming the lives of tens of thousands. Aleppo, one of the world's oldest cities, bore the brunt of this disaster with approximately 36,000 structures reduced to rubble. Despite the dire need, the international community failed to address a humanitarian crisis in areas where governance is virtually non-existent. Aid efforts were hampered by poor infrastructure and economic sanctions. Today, the need for help is still as urgent as ever.

Although usual emergency solutions provide immediate relief, they are ultimately not viable to solve similar crises. In fact, they are harmful in the long-term, as they lead to protracted refugee situations — as currently witnessed in Aleppo — where refugees remain in camps much longer than intended.

From a pragmatic reading of the facts, we offer an alternative to the traditional way humanitarian agencies deal with crises. We are a team of architects, designers, engineers and scientists striving to build resilient communities, to think of emergency shelters as homes and of refugee camps as future cities.

How are we solving it?

We design timber units (flat-packs), which are assembled into shelters in a matter of days and constitute a foundation for expansion and customisation in the mid-long term. Therefore, we provide shelter for the period of upheaval whilst serving as the basis for a life-long home. Our solution enables imminent housing while reducing the dependency to degraded shelters, eliminating the risk of permanent slums, preserving the dignity of people and restoring their civic pride by offering a sustainable long-term alternative to tents.

The house is a modular structure made of sustainably sourced plywood with a surface area of about 86 m². The components are digitally fabricated using CNC machines to ensure millimetre precision in the manufacturing process, resulting in perfectly fitting pieces that create a straight and accurate building. This precision in manufacturing simplifies subsequent stages of building the house.

Designed to serve as a permanent residence, the system is built to withstand harsh external conditions and seismic loads. Inside, it is fully equipped with all essential amenities for a family's comfortable living. Furthermore, given the unstable energy situation in the region, the module generates its own electricity. In short, the flat-pack is a fully-equipped modular home designed to accommodate an entire family immediately and permanently: Design -> Ship -> Assemble -> Move in!

What are our impact goals for the next five years?

Over the coming five years, we want to transition from emergency tents to modular flat-packs and to conceptualize a compact sustainable city model atop the existing rubble. In other words, our goal is to rise from the ashes, creating a self-sustained urban model atop ruins. Subsequently, we plan to shift the reconstruction's core to the affected area itself. By focusing on community-led production of these flat-packs, we aspire to stimulate local economic development and promote community engagement and integration.

We believe that this community-led approach will not only result in a more effective solution but will also foster a sense of ownership and investment in the project from those we are serving.

How are we at MIT well-positioned to deliver this solution?

The team has a wide range of backgrounds and technical expertise, which allows us to approach this complex issue from multiple perspectives. We believe that diversity is a strength, and we have intentionally brought together individuals with different skills and experiences. Furthermore, being originally from the region, our lead has a deep understanding of its culture and customs, which enables us to connect with the communities we serve more effectively. 

Get Involved

1. Make a Gift: Support our project by donating. Not only will you be contributing to a great cause, but if you donate the minimum amount or more:
   • Receive voluntary membership.
   • Have your name carved on our first flat-pack concept module alongside other supporters. Prefer to remain anonymous? You can choose that too!
2. Membership Details: If you'd like to become a member, while donating, please tick the following boxes:
   • Add a dedication to your donation (GAMMA).
   • Send an email to the addressee (contact@gammarelief.org) with your full name and country of origin.
3. Connect with Us: For more detailed information or to chat, visit us at gammarelief.org. We'd love to hear your thoughts, answer your questions, or just say hello!