Today Luke met Claire Strudwick of Shanghai Media Group (SMG)–Claire was interested in the “I Bought A Shelter” story and will consider following us out to report from the field…if we can talk her into it! Meanwhile Luke is putting the finishing touches on the tent tomorrow: fixing the floor, applying a door to the other end, cutting the top ventilations. Sam, Kim, and I have been having on-going phone meetings with Save the Children, CFPA (Mercy Corps local partner), and HODR. We are learning the larger relief organizations tend to need products in greater bulk while the smaller organizations are probably better suited to take in our shelters–basically there are huge needs at all levels and each organization fits into the overall relief effort in a different way…we’ve just got to find that match. Anne will be meeting with HODR when they hit the ground in Beijing on Saturday (Stef from HODR will head to Chengdu on Sunday) and Anne will also attend the UN session Friday morning. Probably the most important news of the day was positive feedback on the design of the tents from relief workers on the field.

News from Wednesday, May 28

We’ve got a prototype we like!! The last few days have been spent out on the field near Moganshan Lu at Island6’s old building, testing and making changes to the prototype (Click here for PDF shelter specification sheet). Architects Vincent Degraaf (AIM), designer Karin Rijlaarsdam, and other “experts” in the field stopped by to help and feed-in suggestions. Luke has been making improvements to the design before he and Sam head out to Sichuan on Monday. The changes are good—added groundsheets, strengthened bracings, air vents and rain gutters that channel water runoff away from the shelter.

We’re challenging ourselves on the safety and durability of the shelters to make sure this thing is a sound design. We think the beauty of it is it’s lightness, size, and that it uses local materials with much less waste since the materials can be used elsewhere once the shelter is dismantled. There is also no in-factory manufacturing necessary as all of this is done during installation on-site. The design can also be winterized by adding an insulating felt layer beneath the plastic cover…always room for improvement but these are all critical factors in providing effective sheltering solutions! And we’ll need to further test when we’re on site to make sure those living inside are comfortable with the shelters. There was a news article today about a group of college kids who were talking about being cold and wet in their tents…further reinforcement that what we’re doing is the right thing.

Kim Chu and Sam and have been furiously calling to NGOs trying to work out the best way to integrate our efforts with those already on the ground—everything we read says relief efforts are in desperate need of locally-produced shelter but how to get it to them is something we haven’t yet figured out. It’s not easy. Jennifer Smieja recommended we talk to Hands on Disaster Response and they were incredibly helpful in pointing us in the right direction as well as sorting out how to legally take-in donations. HODR’s approach to relief work is to be on the ground assessing the needs of survivors and responding with speed and efficiency. Their initial team is traveling here May 30 so we’ll work with them as much as we can. Right now what we’ve heard and read here is that there are tons of people volunteering to help but there is more need for organization and instruction regarding tent installation and building of shelters. We’re also hearing that foreign agencies have been asked to cut down on their foreign bodies on the ground. Not sure what that’s about yet but it probably has to do with trying to keep the chaos to a minimum.

Blogsite is also officially UP! And we’re just working out the kinks… We’re unable to take in funds at the moment but hopefully tomorrow! Facebook is up too! More pics to come!

If you live in Shanghai you can purchase an “i bought a shelter” t-shirt by contacting akille@mac.com. Proceeds will go towards the effort. 

If you live outside of Shanghai and wish to make t-shirts yourself please contact akille@mac.com as well–we’ll send you the files.

There are reports of an estimated 5 million people in Sichuan province displaced from their homes and in need of basic shelter. They are unable to move into permanent structures either because remaining structures are not safe or because they were wiped out altogether. Particularly in small towns and villages, tents are the immediate answer now and into the summer.

Existing tent manufacturers are trying to meet the increased demand but many tents in use now are made from materials that keep in heat and thus won’t hold up as well in the long term. Other tents being constructed by individuals are being made out of cheap woven plastic material—the material is not waterproof and is a very temporary solution.

There is a need NOW and will be a need throughout the summer and fall for cost-effective locally-produced shelters that can hold up through rain, hot sun, and storms.

What we’re doing
British industrial designer Luke Cardew has previously studied and designed emergency relief shelters. He has returned to Shanghai to design an inexpensive and environmentally responsible local “kit” made out of bamboo and a low-tech durable plastic that can be constructed on-site into spacious temporary shelters to house six to twelve people for up to one year. The shelters have many benefits over conventional tents being cheaper, more spacious and better ventilated. Friends Alistair Kille, Sam Keam, Cynthia, Li, Anne Halvorson, Rebecca Pasquali, Kim Chu, and a team from Wieden + Kennedy are joining together to help source the kits, raise money, maintain a blog, and deliver shelter kits to victims in need throughout Sichuan (focusing first on smaller villages further away from aid stations).

The final Prototype has been tested and refined on the lawn of Island6. Luke and Sam will head to Chengdu on June 02 to test ten prototype shelters and make any further adjustments to the design while the team back in Shanghai prepare to produce and deliver more.

How you can help
Buy a shelter for 700RMB (price may vary slightly depending on material suppliers and transport costs). Track the progress of the project on our blogsite as shelters are produced and shipped to affected communities in Sichuan. Donations will be taken on our behalf by Hands On Disaster Response (HODR), a US-based, volunteer-staffed, non-profit organization with 501(c)3 tax-exempt status, Tax ID # 20-3414952. Or if you wish to contribute in a different way please contact Anne Halvorson at anne.halvorson@wk.com or +86 138 186 36611. For more information on the project please contact info@iboughtashelter.com

An important note on buying a shelter or any donations to iboughtashelter.com:
While field testing in Chengdu we will be collaborating with HODR as they conduct an initial assessment of the situation in Sichuan including their/our ability to make a difference in light of current relief efforts. If, through their assessment we learn that existing relief efforts are not able to integrate our shelters, we will redirect shelter donations to an effective charity on the ground. In other words…if the red tape becomes too thick we’ll call off the dogs!…but your money will still go towards a relief effort we trust to do the job well! Please consider this in making your donation. Thank you!