Julia Gospodinova
Building technology Graduation Studio
Circular Transitional Housing for displaced people in extreme conditions: the case of Pakistan
More frequent and severe weather events emphasize the rising demand for sustainable housing for displaced populations. Transitional housing units (THUs) offer temporary shelter but face environmental, social, and economic challenges. This research integrates circular building principles into THU design to retain material value and minimise negative effects. Based on existing THUs, their lifecycle, stakeholder involvement, and circularity principles, a tool is developed to aid planners in making circularity-informed decisions. It has a dual functionality: design support for new shelters; and design evaluation of existing ones. To contextualise the project and showcase the implementation of the tool, a circular THU for the extreme conditions of Pakistan is proposed. The design incorporates overall 15 circularity principles, passive strategies, and locally available biobased materials. Circular THUs can foster innovation in the humanitarian sector while adhering to the principle of do-no-harm. Stakeholder collaboration remains crucial. The findings contribute to incorporating circularity in humanitarian construction.