Gallery: The Liina Transitional Modula...

The building blocks for the Liina Shelter are prefabricated, wooden sandwich panels built from plywood and LVL (laminated veneer lumber) panels with wood-fiber insulation. The panels are lightweight and joined together with simple, repeated wooden-dowelled joints to form a house-shaped frame. Nylon straps (‘liina’ in Finnish) are wrapped around the frames to hold them together tight before each is tilted up and stacked in line with the other frames. After all the panels are in place, the shelter is covered with a tent-like canopy to protect it from water and UV damage. No power tools are required to assemble the frames, and they are light enough for two people to easily assemble and move them into place. Assembly time is estimated to be around 6 hours.

This design is specifically for a family of 4-5 people for a period of up to 5 years, and intended for use during the post-crisis reconstruction period. Inside, the 18 sq meter transitional shelter features two semi-private sleeping spaces, a galley kitchen and dual purpose eating/living/workspace. A loft can be used as additional sleeping space or storage, while an outdoor sheltered patio provides extra outdoor living or working space.

The student team originally designed this shelter for the climate of the Ararat region in Turkey, which is known for its large share of natural disasters and political turmoil. However, the shelter’s design can be modified to fit a wide range of climates, and its modular design can be adapted to fit a variety of situations or needs.

+ Liina Transitional Shelter at Aalto University

Images ©Wood Program at Aalto University