Ikea Sends Its New Flatpack Refugee Shelter to Syria

businessweek.com - by Caroline Winter - September 11, 2013

Ikea, known for its affordable flatpack furniture, is moving into new territory: refugee housing.

The Swedish retailer has teamed up with the United Nations’ refugee agency (UNHCR) to develop a flatpack shelter that can be quickly assembled on site. Recently 50 prototypes, all packed into standard Ikea cardboard boxes, were shipped to refugee camps and crisis regions in Syria.

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Also see:

Ikea brings flatpack innovation to emergency refugee shelters - http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2013/jul/02/ikea-flatpack-refugee-shelter

Discussion of cost - http://www.wired.com/design/2013/07/ikeas-innovative-new-refugee-shelter/