Designing Breathable Shelter
Passive ventilation for Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh
The Problem
Over a million Rohingya refugees live in shelters that trap extreme heat and cooking smoke. Indoor temperatures reach 40°C. PM2.5 levels exceed WHO limits by 300%. Children develop respiratory infections. Families cut holes through tarps to breathe, weakening structures during monsoons.
The Challenge
Design effective ventilation using only UNHCR shelter kit materials—bamboo, tarp, rope, mesh—with zero new budget and installation by non-technical users.
The Solution
Three modular windows at different heights create passive airflflow through wind pressure and thermal buoyancy:
Floor Level (30 cm): Draws cool ground air. Roll-down flflap for dust. Mesh blocks insects.
Chest Height (90 cm): Directs airflflow into breathing zone. Hinged panel, adjustable prop. Maintains privacy.
Roof Height (1.8–2.2 m): Fixed exhaust vent. Hot air escapes passively.
Pre-framed units attach with rope loops. Two people, two hours, zero tools. Total cost: $7.50 per shelter.
Results
CFD simulations in ANSYS Fluent validated performance:
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2.4°C temperature reduction
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90% smoke cleared in 85 seconds
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4.2 air changes per hour (exceeds 3 ACH minimum)
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Works in windless conditions using thermal buoyancy
The Gap
Simulations validate physics, not human behavior. Will families open vents at night? Can children operate flflaps safely? Does mesh clog with dust? Can residents repair damage during monsoons?
I never watched real users interact with the design. That gap between designed and deployable drives my interest in human-centered product design.
What I Learned
Constraints drive innovation. The $8 budget forced modular design. Material limits demanded simplicity. Twohour installation required intuitive assembly.
Good design isn't perfection—it's improving what exists and building systems that adapt as needs change. Engineering simulates temperature drop. Design accounts for trust, culture, and how people actually live.
By the Numbers
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2.4°C average temperature reduction
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90% smoke cleared in 85 seconds
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4.2 air changes per hour
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$7.50 per shelter using UNHCR kit materials
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2 hours installation, no tools
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1+ million refugees could benefifit
Design Principles
Constraint-Based Innovation • Design for Assembly • Modular Repair • User Control • Cultural Appropriateness • Passive Operation
Published in the Journal of Humanitarian Engineering. Reflflects my commitment to human-centered product design that restores dignity in displacement contexts.