Design a Real Home for a Real Community.

A free online challenge for students. Join international teams, learn from global experts, and work on a real housing challenge from a teammate’s region.
Apply now. Only 50 spots. Registration closes on 9 November 2026. You will hear from us within 7 days after registration.

FREE - MAX 50 PARTICIPANTS — STUDENTS ONLY

• Dates : 4 Saturdays: November 21, 28 and December 5, 12 - 2026
  
• Time : 09:30 to 13:30 London Time GMT (UTC+0)
• Duration : 16 hours total (4 hours per session)
• Price : €0, fully sponsored by TBI Klimaattrein
• Location : Online via MS Teams
• Disciplines : Architecture, Engineering, Design and Environmental Science
• For Whom: Enrolled Students Only - No Professionals

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

How to apply.

1. Click Register 
2. Complete the registration form on Ticket Tailor, including your motivation letter (150-250 words).
3. We review all applications and notify you within 7 days whether you have a place.

Note: Previous participants (any edition from 2022 up to and including March/April 2026) are not eligible

Not a case study. A real problem, from a real place.

Your teammate knows the problem first-hand.

In four Saturdays, you and your international team will turn temporary shelters into safe, permanent homes for communities hit by floods, earthquakes or hurricanes.

What makes this challenge different: one of your teammates brings a real housing problem from their own region, so you work with someone who knows the local conditions first-hand. Your teammates come from universities all over the world, and your final concept is presented to a jury of experts.

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 surpassed my expectations giving not only technical but also a shift in mentality towards construction as a whole."

What You Will Learn.

• How to research a disaster context: which hazards occur, and what that means for people’s homes.
• How to find out what a community actually needs, instead of assuming it.
• Building with natural and waste materials.
• How to turn your research into a practical, realistic design brief.
• How to work in an international, multidisciplinary team.

Speakers.

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

• Dr. Liam McCarton (Director, Engineers Without Borders, Ireland) on Design Water In.
• 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, London) 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 (November 21)

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 (November 28)

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 (December 05)

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 (December 12)

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.

Is this for you?
This challenge is made for students. You can join if you are currently enrolled as a BSc, MSc or PhD student in architecture, engineering, design or environmental science. A part-time job outside these fields is no problem.

Who this challenge is not for
This challenge is free so that students without a professional income can take part. It also asks a real time commitment: four Saturday sessions, plus teamwork in between, which is hard to combine with a professional or leadership role. We also keep teams balanced, so that everyone starts with a similar level of experience. That is why we can’t accept people who currently work in a professional or leadership role, in any field, even if they also study part-time. A student job or part-time job alongside your studies is no problem. Past participants (2022 up to and including March/April 2026) are also not eligible, so that we can welcome new students.

Looking for training or a workshop for your organisation? We would be happy to tell you about our paid workshops: info@smartshelterfoundation.org

PhD students
You are welcome to apply if your research clearly relates to the workshop themes (humanitarian engineering, disaster-resilient housing, natural materials). Please explain the connection in your motivation. To keep teams balanced, PhD students form their own team. We can only set that up if enough suitable PhD students apply. If not, we are sorry that we can’t place you.

What we ask of you
Your team relies on you, so please join all four Saturday sessions.

Award & Recognition
All successful participants receive a Certificate of Participation. Winning teams receive a Certificate of Achievement.

Your Motivation Letter.

We would like to get to know you. In your registration, tell us in 150 to 250 words:

• What you would bring to an international team
• How this challenge relates to your studies
• How you would approach understanding the needs of a community you don’t know yet
• How you plan to use what you learn afterwards

There are no right or wrong answers. We read every letter, and we use them to form diverse, balanced teams.

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 currently work as an architect, engineer, designer or environmental professional, you are not eligible, even if you also study part-time. Students with a job outside these fields are welcome to apply.

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 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 Participation.

Q: How is the workshop structured? A: The Design Challenge runs over 4 consecutive Saturdays (4 hours per session, 16 hours in total). This leaves time between sessions for research and team collaboration.

Q: What time zone is the event held in? A: All sessions run from 09:30 to 13:30 - London Time GMT (UTC+0) - check worldtimebuddy.com/

Q: What are the workshop dates? A: 4 Saturdays: November 21, 28 and December 5, 12 - 2026.

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 Participation from Smart Shelter Foundation.

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