Goal11.

Makecitiesandhumansettlementsinclusive,safe,resilientandsustainable
Subtopic1.By2030,ensureaccessforalltoadequate,safeandaffordablehousingandbasicservices
andupgradeslums
Team:WendyXiaoG11,MahparaJahanG11,DanaKurniawanG11,NoaRosenfeldG11,Sidhant
SinghG11,KavyaNayakG11(ContactPerson)
ProblemStatementHowcandisplacedpeoplegainaccesstoaffordableandsustainablehousing
solutions?
NameofTechnology:TheM.A.S.H(Modular,Affordable,SustainableHousing)Unit

Introduction With many natural disasters and the current geopolitical climate affecting the safety of
individuals and families, it is more important than ever that displaced individuals have access to their
basic human rights and needs. Whether it is SyrianrefugeesinUNHCRcampsorfamiliesdisplacedby
the Haitian earthquake, modular micro-housing solutions are the ideal way to create inclusive, safe,
resilient,andsustainablehousingatalowcost.Micro-housinginvolvesone-roomhousesthatareeasily
buildable, as they include water filtration, solar-panel, and wind-turbine add-ons. These individually
manufacturedadd-onsareattachabletothehouse,makingthehousecustomizable,andadaptable.

How the M.A.S.H Unit Functions A structure comprised of modules/ parts allows for swapping of
damaged parts which promotes sustainable consumptionamongsttheusers.Theunitofbecomposed
from 3 main sections; the roof, the side pieces, and the main body. Eachsectionperformsspecialised
taskswhichcollectivelyprovidethebasicamenitiesoftheunit.

The roof consists of 2 electrical ports where solar panels or windturbinescanbeaddeddependingon

the climate of the geographical region where the unit would be used. The intended purpose of these
ports is to supply the M.A.S.H with electricity to power internal lighting and a charging port. The side
pieces main function is the collection, storage and filtration of rainwater. The triangular shape of the
roof helps collect water and transport it to the rain filtration unit. Bymaximisingtheforceofgravitythe
water passes through the filtration unit to provide clean drinking water through a faucet in the house,
which can be used for cooking, cleaning, and drinking. The mainbodyoftheM.A.S.Histheresidential
space. This section serves as the anchor piece or porting body for the additional pieces. In order to
make the M.A.S.H Unit adaptable to various geopolitical regions the main body hasthepotentialtobe
installed with an insulating layer. This would be attached through a simplepinningmechanismtoallow
easy application and removal. The main body would include storage spaceforresidentsbelongingsas
well as a fire stove for cooking. The units will be contracted to specialized production/manufacturing
firms that work with sustainable materials and technology,thegoalwiththesefirmswouldbetohavea
high standard of quality yet still make theproductaffordablethroughmassproduction.Alltheseparate
sections of the home would be shipped or transported to a centralised location within the region for
assemblywiththelocation-specificadditions.

Addressing the Problem Statement Although investments in micro-housing for displaced individuals
have been made, they lack the robust technology necessary to provide electricity or water at an
affordable price point. Past efforts in sustainable micro housing have focused on providing luxurious
housing models available only in MEDCs at high price points (Eco Capsule & NOMAD micro homes).
Past efforts in housing for displaced individuals have focusedonbasic,short-termhousingwhichdoes
not provide for long-term needs (IKEA Better Shelter). We propose the M.A.S.H unit, anew,innovative
solutionofmodularmicro-housing.Itisversatile,cost-effective,andsustainable.
Not only would the M.A.S.H. unitbeidealfordisplacedindividuals,itwouldbeidealforgovernmentsin
providing low cost alternatives to refugee camps and fast, quick solutions for natural disasters. The
modular design allows for customization based on the nature of the need, this would subsequently
make it highly efficient for many thirdpartiesoperatingindiversegeographicalregions.Forexample,in
European climates with large wind currents, the houses can be built with a wind turbine unit, will the
housesbeingusedinmoreintheequatorregioncanbefittedwithsolarpanelunitstocollectenergy.

Shorttermbenefits LongtermBenefits

The modular design and prefabrication allow for
shorter production time. Additionally, less waste
products are produced as a result of creating
prefabricated homes. Furthermore, recycling is
encouraged in the production timeline. Utilization
of renewable resources for our M.A.S.Hwilllower
carbon emissions, use of natural resources, and
use of common access resources. The M.A.S.H
encourages self subsistence locally for nations,
and highlights the benefits of buildinghomesthat
areusedandproducedsustainably.
M.A.S.H are multifaceted in theirusesandcanbe
homes for recovery of natural disasters, civilians
of war torn nations, a surplus in immigrants, a
financial crisis, any many forms of situations
where people may require sustainable forms of
living.
The modular home is sustainable in its
production as one damaged area can easily be
replaced without the entire unit needing to be
repurchased. Furthermore, it generates its own
energy and reduces theneedtooutsourcewater.
It minimises therelianceonnonrenewableenergy
sources and provides continuous clean water.
The unit also works as a parallel circuit, meaning
that the exhaustion of energy from a specific
M.A.S.H unit does not disrupt the energy
provision and intake of neighbouring units. This
highlights the importance of the M.A.S.H Unit in
itslongtermsustainablesolution.

Conclusion Therefore, the M.A.S.H. unit is an innovative solution to provide housing for displaced
people. Ideally, the M.A.S.H. would be a self-sustaining house that canbeimplementedeasilyatalow
cost. It would serve as more advanced shelter for refugees and temporary shelter for those
experiencing natural disaster, with the modular design being versatile for all parties seeking adequate,
safe,affordable,andsustainablehousing.