Global Design Challenge: Permanent Disaster Housing Solutions 2026

Join the Free Global Design Challenge! Create permanent, safe housing solutions for vulnerable communities and win a Team Design Certificate.

FREE OF CHARGE - MAX 50 PARTICIPANTS — STUDENTS ONLY

• Dates : 4 Saturdays: March 14, 21, 28 and April 04
• Time : 09:30 am to 12:30 pm London Time 
  * Note: UK clocks change on March 29. The first three sessions are GMT (UTC+0), and the final session on April 04 is BST (UTC+1)
• Duration : 12 hours total (3 hours per session)
• Price : For free
• Location : Online via MS Teams
• Disciplines : Architecture, Engineering, Design and Environmental Science
• For Whom: Enrolled Students Only - No Professionals
• Sponsor: TBI Klimaattrein

This workshop is Free of Charge thanks to our partners and sponsor TBI Klimaattrein, ensuring every eligible student can participate and collaborate.

IMPORTANT: Previous attendees are not eligible if you have attended this workshop in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.

The Challenge: Real-Life Impact.

This is an intensive, unique Design Challenge. You will work in an international team to transform temporary shelters into safe, permanent homes for communities affected by natural disasters (floods, earthquakes, hurricanes).

The Unique Difference.

What makes this challenge truly one-of-a-kind is that your teammates come from universities all over the world, and one of your team members will propose a real-life problem. This means you work on a challenge where a team member knows the local conditions best. You are solving a tangible issue, not a hypothetical case study.

What Students Are Saying.

"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."

"I was expecting to get an introduction to humanitarian construction. The workshop surpass my expectations giving not only technical but also a shift in mentality towards construction as a whole."

What You Will Master & Learn.

• Humanitarian Engineering and Social Design
• Non-Engineered Earthquake and Flooding Design
• Building with Natural and Waste Materials
• Practical and Realistic Design Thinking

Speakers.

Learn directly from global experts who are pioneering sustainable and resilient design:

• Dr. Liam McCarton (Director, Engineers Without Borders, Ireland) on Designing Water and Energy In: Creating a design tool for integrating water and solar energy.
• Dr. Nandan Mukherjee (Director, Binks Institute, University of Dundee) on Flood Resilient Housing in Bangladesh.
• Dr. Hemant B Kaushik (IIT Guwahati, India) on Wooden Housing.
• Dr. Martijn Schildkamp (Director of SSF) on Non-Engineered Seismic Design Principles and Natural Materials.
• Dr. Witiya Pittungnapoo (Naresuan University, Thailand) on Flood Resilient Housing in Thailand.
• Sr.Eng. Sebastian Kaminski (Arup) on Bamboo.

Workshop Program: 4 Saturdays of Action.

Each of the four Saturday sessions is designed to directly support your team's design challenge, moving you from context and research to final concept presentation.

Session 1: Context and Planning (March 14)

We'll cover essential knowledge related to shelter solutions, overall housing strategies, and various environmental contexts (floods, earthquakes, etc.) to frame your real-life assignment.

Session 2: Techniques and Typologies (March 21)

We'll look at the various aspects of vernacular architectural typologies and traditional techniques, specifically related to their behavior in disaster-prone areas (Non-Engineered Seismic Design).

Session 3: Materials and Resources (March 28)

Expert lectures will examine the pros and cons of natural and alternative materials, focusing on applicability, cost implications, and cultural influences in disaster zones.

Session 4: Presentations and Design Award (April 04)

This is the final pitch session. You will present a realistic and understandable description of your concept, strategy, materials, and environmental solutions to the jury.

Eligibility and Selection.

⚠️ STRICTLY FOR STUDENTS ONLY

• You must be a enrolled current student in one of the listed disciplines (BSc, MSc, and PhD students).

• Professionals: If you have graduated and are working, your registration will be declined.
  This workshop is exclusively for current BSc, MSc, and PhD students. We cannot accept applications from established professionals, even if you are currently enrolled in part-time or side studies. This session is designed as a foundational learning space for full-time students.

• Ph.D. Students: Registrations will be reviewed separately.

Commitment Required: You must confirm your participation in all four sessions.

Award & Recognition: All successful participants receive a Certificate of Achievement. Winning teams receive a Team Design Certificate.

Application Process: Motivation Letter.

To be considered, you must submit a written motivation.

• Length: Aim for 150 to 250 words.

• Focus: Address your contribution to the team, the relevance to your studies, and your vision for applying the knowledge afterward.

! We reserve the right to decline registrations that do not meet these criteria.

See the Impact: Video Guide & Student Comments.

Ready to see what the challenge is really like? We highly recommend viewing this content:

Instruction Video Workshop

• Hear from Previous Participants to understand their experience and learn what you can expect from the workshop sessions.

Student video Kimberly

Student video Narmeen

Student Video Carlos (Spanish language)

Contact.

Contact: info@smartshelterfoundation.org  -  Smart Shelter Foundation 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

About Eligibility & Enrollment

Q: Who is eligible to attend this workshop? A: This workshop is strictly for students only who are currently enrolled in a university program (Architecture, Design, Engineering, Environmental Sciences).

Q: Do I need to be a student of Architecture or Engineering? A: The workshop is open to students from all relevant fields, including Architecture, Civil/Structural/Environmental Engineering, Product Design, and Mechanical Engineering. The challenge is multidisciplinary!

Q: I am a professional, can I register? A: No. If you have already graduated and are working professionally, you are not eligible for this free student-focused workshop.

Q: I am a Ph.D. student, can I apply? A: Yes, but Ph.D. student registrations will be reviewed separately. Please ensure your motivation letter clearly details how the workshop aligns with your research.

Q: Do I need to submit a motivation letter? A: Yes, a written motivation is required for your application to be considered. We review all applications due to the limited spots available (max 50 participants).

About the Workshop Format & Logistics

Q: Is this workshop truly free of charge? A: Yes. The workshop is entirely free of charge for eligible students, thanks to our partners and TBI Klimaattrein. Your registration grants you access to all four sessions, expert lectures, and a Certificate of Achievement.

Q: Why is the workshop 4 days long? A: The workshop is structured as a Design Challenge that is spread out over 4 consecutive Saturdays. This allows time for research and team collaboration between sessions.

Q: What time zone is the event held in? A: All sessions run from 09:30 am to 12:30 pm London Time (GMT/BST)*.
* Note: The UK switches to Daylight Savings on March 29. Sessions 1, 2, and 3 are GMT (UTC+0). The final session on April 04 will be BST (UTC+1). Please use worldtimebuddy.com to check the difference for your specific region on both the start and end dates! 

Q: What platforms do I need to access the sessions? A: The live sessions will be hosted on the online platform MSTeams. We will also use MS Teams for group collaboration, discussions with experts, and sharing assignments.

Q: Do I need special software for the design challenge? A: You will not need advanced software. The challenge focuses on creating a Design Brief and Conceptual Approach (including a short graphic presentation), not a complete technical design. Basic presentation software is sufficient.

About Participation & Certificates

Q: Is attendance mandatory for all sessions? A: Yes. Since this is a team-based Design Challenge, we require your commitment to attend all four sessions. Your team members rely on your participation.

Q: How are the teams formed? A: Teams are formed internationally to ensure a diverse mix of disciplines, year, country regional knowledge, reflecting real-world humanitarian work.

Q: Do I get a certificate for completing the workshop? A: Yes, all students who successfully complete and participate in all four sessions will receive a formal Certificate of Achievement from the Smart Shelter Foundation.

Q: Is there a prize for the Design Challenge? A: The top 2 teams will receive a Team Design Award Certificate presented by the jury to recognize their outstanding conceptual approach or design brief.