Skip to main content

Ikea’s Better Shelter goes from flat pack kit to functioning relief shelter

To help with the growing refugee problem across the globe, the Scandinavian do-it-yourself furniture giant Ikea unveiled what it calls the Better Shelter project. Officially part of the company’s nonprofit branch, the Better Shelter project set out to make easily constructed shelters that were not only more durable or heavy-duty but also cheaper. The finished product, 30,000 are already built and in use, takes four hours to put together and represents a viable solution for the more than 65 million refugees worldwide who find themselves homeless.

A design several years in the making, Ikea debuted its shelter in 2013 as a possible long-term solution to the refugee crisis. After tinkering with its design and required materials, Ikea’s modern day version of the Better Shelter is a flat-packed and weatherproofed home intended to house up to five people. Comprised of just three main components — a base frame with installed panels and a solar energy setup — Ikea backs up its claim of a four-hour assembly process with a published video showing just four people completely constructing one in the allotted time.

Recommended Videos

Tens of thousands of these shelters are already built and in use around the world, primarily serving as housing, relief stations, and medical tents. Thus far, Ikea has hoped to make its Better Shelter’s cheaper and sturdier than the traditional shelters doled out by the United Nations. Based on this effort, the Better Shelter project nabbed the Beazley Design of the Year prize after being nominated for the recognition in August.

“The Better Shelter team is happy and humbled to be awarded the Beazley Design of the Year prize,” said the Better Shelter team after winning the award. “It is touching to witness peoples’ hard work towards their mission of improving the lives of others. We find it inspiring to see how design and technology are used in the most remarkable ways to make life safer and more comfortable for others, and to witness peoples’ fundamental will to support and help in solidarity with strangers.”

With the award win secured and positive reviews of the shelters rolling in, Ikea has already signed off on ramping up production of the Better Shelter. It reportedly delivered more than 10,000 Better Shelter units in 2015 — a number which should only go up as production follows suit.

Rick Stella
Former Associate Editor, Outdoor
Rick became enamored with technology the moment his parents got him an original NES for Christmas in 1991. And as they say…
If you have pets, but hate vacuuming, this Shark robot vacuum is 49% off
The Shark AV2501S vacuum bot.

Nobody really likes vacuuming. Even with manually washing dishes you get to hear the pleasant sounds of water running, but vacuuming is overall just loud and time consuming. That's why we love robot vacuums so much. What we don't like about robot vacuums, however, is the price, which is why scouring through robot vacuum deals is so critical. Take this one, an early Prime Day deal, that saves you $270 on the Shark AV2501S, dropping its price to $280 from $550. Putting this all into perspective, when we covered the Shark AV2501S's 2024 Prime Day deal, it was still $412—things are looking a lot better for you this time around. To lock in this great price, simply tap the button below and make your purchase. Otherwise, keep reading to see why we like this vacuum, and what made it special enough for us to recommend it in the past.

Buy Now

Read more
xTool’s F2 Ultra: A smarter take on creative production
xtool f2 ultra on display on a table

This July, xTool isn’t just opening a new office in Mountain View, California, it’s setting up shop with purpose. Their U.S. Brand Launch Experience, timed with the debut of xTool’s first American headquarters, is more than a launch party. It’s a look at how the company is thinking long-term about tools, creators, and community.

At the center of the event is the F2 Ultra, xTool’s new flagship dual-laser system designed for small businesses and serious makers. Why does this machine matter? It helps to zoom out first. xTool’s U.S. expansion is borne of the necessity to show up for the people who use their products every day.
A Local Anchor for a Growing Brand
Mountain View now hosts xTool’s first U.S. demo center and office. That means faster customer support, more hands-on service, and a clearer bridge to the U.S. creative scene. One standout piece of the rollout is the xTool Squad, a national support team offering real human help with setup, training, and troubleshooting.

Read more
Samsung’s AI-powered refrigerator is down $1,870 for July 4th sale
Here, you can see the screen of the Samsung Bespoke 4-Flex with AI Family Hub refrigerator.

It's that time of the year where we see the most strain on our refrigeration and freezing elements, and when waiting extra minutes for a fresh batch of ice just doesn't seem worth it anymore. Luckily, a great Samsung deal has emerged as part of the company's ongoing July 4th sale. Their Bespoke 4-Door Flex Refrigerators (the smart refrigerators with AI vision into the fridge's interior and an AI family board on the front) are down to $3,299. That's a savings of $1,870 for the counter depth version (originally $5,099) and a savings of $1,200 for the full depth version (originally $4,999). Tap the button below to see the refrigerators for yourself or keep on reading to see why these are the best smart home pickups for the summer.

BUY NOW

Read more