Molo’s Softshelter solution is made up of its expandable, accordion style paper room dividers, which it has been selling for many years. The walls are made from 100% recyclable paper with magnetic door closures. Flexible by design, these walls can be used to create a myriad of shapes and rooms and are intended for indoor use only (as they are most definitely not waterproof). The idea is that post disaster, these flat-packed room dividers could be shipped to large shelters, where they could be set up to create private rooms for families.
One of Molo’s employees, David, moved into a shelter room last week to test out the prototype and see what else could be done to make the system better. David is sleeping on the floor with a select few belongings as well as a light, a towel rod, binder clips and magnets – a package that the team decided to provide with each emergency shelter. So far, David says of the shelter, “On Tuesday I moved a selection of belongings into the workshop. It is comforting to fall asleep completely enclosed by the undulating kraft paper walls. Despite being in the large, open workshop the shelter offers a feeling of safety and isolation.”
The concept seems completely practical and useful in large shelter situations where these private rooms would provide a sense of privacy and dignity for families. On the other hand though, Co.Design is reporting that these paper shelters cost $1000 bucks a pop. It seems pretty expensive for paper alone, but then again, emergency shelters aren’t cheap either (although they should be!). Maybe Molo can set up a system like TOMS shoes, where those that purchase a Softwall room divider also pay for the cost of an emergency shelter in a disaster zone.
Via Co. Design
Images ©Molo Design
