french designer geoffroy de reynal has created iglou, an igloo-like shelter for homeless people in france. the insulated temporary home is both compact and foldable, allowing it to be built without any loose parts in just seconds. this new type of waterproof shelter has given parisian homeless people a home that remains warm even in freezing temperatures.
all images courtesy of iglou
‘I was living abroad in montenegro for a year, and there are not much people living outside,’ geoffroy de reynal told ABC news. ‘when I came back to france, I was surprised by the number of homeless in the streets, so I decided to come up with an idea to help them.’ this resonates with a study published in 2012 by the french national institute of statistics and economic studies, which states that france has around 140,000 homeless people.
made from polyethylene foam, iglou ensures thermal insulation capable of capturing the user’s body heat and creating a warm ambience inside up to 20ºC above the outside temperature. the interior of the iglou is fire resistant thanks to its aluminum coating, meaning that forgotten cigarette butts or toppled gas burners won’t be an issue.
de reynal started this project some months ago with his own money. foreseeing its impact, he then started a crowdfunding campaign which proved to be successful, receiving around $20,000 more than what he expected. ‘using my resources and the money from the crowd funding campaign, I built 20 igloos prototypes this winter and distributed 10 in bordeaux, and 10 additional in paris,’ he said.
‘my ambition is to produce these igloos on a large scale, hundreds or even thousands of them,’ geoffroy de reyna concludes. ‘I also want to make some improvements: putting wheels under the igloos to make them easier to transport, or build larger modular igloos for families.’
project info:
name: iglou
designer: geoffroy de reynal
type: insulated homeless shelter
portable and emergency architecture (180 articles)
javits center transformed to fight COVID-19 in NYC, while hospital pops up in central park
studio prototype designs prefabricated 'vital house' to combat COVID-19
CURA proposes to transform shipping containers into emergency COVID-19 hospitals
casa ojalá, the transportable home with 1,000 configurations, available for pre-order
SOLO 01 is a 6x6ft portable housing concept built on the back of a yellow rickshaw
'buhaus' turns shipping containers into fire-resistant temporary housing
design news
china's ban on wildlife trade could become law thanks to coronavirus
#design
the ban first appeared in late january as COVID-19 cases started surging in wuhan, even if this origin has been questioned lately.
the ban first appeared in late january as COVID-19 cases started surging in wuhan, even if this origin has been questioned lately.
social distancing brand logos for audi, volkswagen and coca-cola
#design
iconic brands have altered their logos to send a message of solidarity and promote social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic.
iconic brands have altered their logos to send a message of solidarity and promote social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic.
MUSEO JUMEX presents 'lina bo bardi: habitat', spanning architecture, design, and much more
#design
the exhibition presents a significant selection from bo bardi's major body of work.
the exhibition presents a significant selection from bo bardi's major body of work.
milan's salone del mobile officially cancelled and postponed until april 2021
#design
designboom will work towards an even more efficient promotion of the event to acknowledge the cultural importance of the sector.
designboom will work towards an even more efficient promotion of the event to acknowledge the cultural importance of the sector.
I suggest you market Iglou as a both a survivalist and homeless living shelter.
If you sell as a survivalists tent, some of proceeds could go to fund the cost for making the homeless units. “Go Iglou!”
I admire the idea and effort to provide shelter but it is numbing to think that we, as a global society, consider placing people in such an horrendous environment a solution to homelessness. Humans need more than shelter. They need a home, not this. And there is enough research and talent in the design community to give them that and enough wealth in the world to make it happen.
The comment concerning the thought of placing people in such poor substitute of a home, is in my opinion correct. Our world however may
not lack wealth but it most certainly lacks synchronization when it is not facing life threatening situations. Until we will be able to find the ability to sychronize our policies against homelessness this solution will remain – sadly – necessary and important.
This is a good idea. In critical times now this man steps up for his people. Now we need more ideas, inventors, manufacturers to come forward. All countries. Global. Come together.
These could also be great for disaster situations; both victims and responders could use them!
Both comments of mar 20 2020 are valid. We can’t get from A to Z in one step. The iglou and suggestions for expanding its availability where there is need demonstrate our love to the disadvantaged until those with the power to ensure that resources are made available for the greater good ensure just distribution. Yes, go iglou!
Good thinking. The world needs innovaters like you who look beyond what they can see. Great job.
I admire greatly what the “Iglou Team” is trying to do, compared to most that only pontificate about “doing more” or “judging” how others should, could/can, or want to live. Transient human culture is something that is and always has been part of the human condition, and I suspect will continue to be for as long as our species survives…
Well, it is a WHOLE LOT BETTER THAN huddling under a tarp (if you are lucky enough to have one) still soaking wet if it is raining too hard, wondering if you will ever dry out, and shivering in the cold wondering if you will EVER get WELL! Of course better is better. In the meantime this guy was Divinely Inspired to create a step up for many homeless people who are suffering beyond our ability to comprehend and who are valiantly doing their best to survive the deprivation of even taking a shower, doing their laundry, having an accessable TOILET, for pete’s sake! And SO much more! Honestly, a step up is a Godsend — please support this project any way you can:)
Brilliant design for immediate and often critical situations. I apologize for those whom wish to pontificate on long range appropriateness while others are struggling to survive and not be forced into crowded corona virus groups…to me that is the real inhumanity to man….my thoughts from the other side of the
pond!
For a family, make a T shaped connector that attaches to 2 shelters’ door ends, with a door at right angles to the shelters. It would add little cost and still use the original design.
What a great product; I wonder if it could also be used by people in ‘camps’ (when they flee civil wars etc.) or if the home would be too warm in that environment?
This is an AMAZING idea during a time when people are mostly thinking of themselves, there are so very many that are feeling their lowest now but to know there’s someone out there trying to make things better- to provide them with some warmth and comfort out of the weather… It will lift their spirits more than some could know, sometimes just knowing that people still care and still think of you, to know that you haven’t been just written off by society completely- it can do wonders!!!! Bless you and your greatly talented imaginative mind for this ingenious idea!!!! I’m sure we’ll be hearing of other equally thoughtful designs over the years.