Norman Foster Foundation unveils novel emergency shelter blueprint
Sustainable Homes for Displaced Communities: The Essentia Homes Project
The Norman Foster Foundation and Holcim have teamed up to create a groundbreaking project aimed at addressing the housing needs of low-income or displaced communities, particularly in Latin America. Known as Essentia Homes, these innovative dwellings are designed to provide safety, comfort, and wellbeing.
The project originated from a workshop organized by the Norman Foster Foundation for young graduates, focusing on refugee housing issues. The first prototype was unveiled at the Venice Biennale in 2023, and the latest prototype will be showcased at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in London from 18 June until 18 August 2024.
Nollaig Forrest, the chief sustainability officer at Holcim, is excited about the collaboration. She is involved in the Essentia Homes project and looks forward to its rollout at scale in Latin America during 2025.
The homes are built with low-carbon, local materials, including ECOPact low-carbon concrete and ECOPlanet low carbon cement. These materials not only reduce the carbon footprint of the homes but also ensure their adaptability to various environmental conditions.
The Essentia Homes project is a significant step towards sustainable and resilient housing solutions, especially in emergency situations. The homes are designed to be modular and quickly deployable, making them ideal for communities in need of immediate support.
For more information about the project's progress, recent milestones, or detailed descriptions of the current status, we recommend consulting the Norman Foster Foundation's official website or Holcim's corporate communications for the latest reports on Essentia Homes. The images of the homes will also be on display at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in London.
- The Essentia Homes project, designed for low-income or displaced communities, emphasizes sustainability by employing science, such as ECOPact low-carbon concrete and ECOPlanet low carbon cement, in their construction, contributing to climate-change mitigation.
- This cutting-edge project, initiated by the Norman Foster Foundation and Holcim, exemplifies environmental-science innovation, as they aim to implement sustainable and resilient housing solutions, particularly utilizing technology for modular homes that are quickly deployable.
- Holcim's chief sustainability officer, Nollaig Forrest, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, envisioning a large-scale rollout of Essentia Homes in Latin America during 2025, furthering their goal of providing safe, comfortable, and eco-friendly housing for vulnerable communities.
