SAT 26.5.2012, SUN 27.5.2012 , The Railway Square, Sat 11am-8pm, Sun 11am-6pm

According to a 2007 report by Christian Aid, the number of refugees worldwide is expected to exceed 1 billion by 2050.  Using Finnish materials, the Aalto University Wood Program has designed and built a transitional refugee shelter to be deployed quickly and efficiently in cold climates around the world.  Size and weight limitations are important factors in designing a transitional shelter to be carried in pieces by two men, assembled in one day by the inhabitants and durable enough for a family of five to live in for a maximum of five years. The result is an open source, innovative low-tech solution that also demonstrates a commitment to sustainable materials, furthering wood building design, and reaching out to help communities around the globe.

The design of the Wood Program shelter – or “Liina Shelter" – is based on flat-packed panelized construction that is assembled using nylon straps (or “liina" in Finnish), such as those found in the transportation of cargo.   Following a design competition in the fall, the Wood Program's 13 students from 10 different countries have refined the shelter design through 1:1 models and structural tests - such as earthquake and wind tunnel tests - done in conjunction with a team of engineering students.  Though optimized for the climate of the Ararat region of Turkey, the design of the Liina Shelter is meant to adapt to a variety of cultural needs and environmental situations.