Maawa X: Waterproof and Solar Emergency Housing!

Modular, reusable and recyclable, Maawa X offers an effective retractable housing solution for areas affected by emergencies. Innovated by Abdallah Al Raggad, founder of London-based design firm Maawa, the patent-pending 'suitcase' house is compact and easily transportable. It can also be easily checked in as baggage on a flight. It is for quick support in disaster relief efforts such as refugee camps and urban homelessness. The pop-up window instantly expands 16 times. It can create more than 3.5 cubic meters of volume on site without the need for any tools or special assembly.

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From a Suitcase to a Temporary Home

The robust building units are focused on practicality and reducing environmental impact. They are made of cardboard. And integrated with solar panels, connected devices and weather protection for an environmentally friendly construction. At the end of its lifetime, the unit can be reused or recycled, giving it a new life.

Architectural engineer Abdallah Al Raggad's Maawa seeks to solve four key problems facing rapid housing. What are these key issues? Portability, protection, sustainability and cost. So that it can be efficiently transported around the world for emergency relief in situations such as areas affected by natural disasters, the patent-pending Maawa X weighs just 13.7 kg. And it folds easily to fit in a suitcase. It can be instantly expanded to the size of a one- or two-person unit without the need for any tools or set-up. The structure is also recyclable, with a longer lifespan. And it aims to reduce plastic waste by offering an environmentally friendly alternative to biodegradable tents.

It also provides a digital infrastructure that facilitates communication between the housing and housing management. This gives organizations the tools to supervise, control and analyze Maawa units in their various facilities. The group has partnered with financial technology experts MadfooatCom and the Hashemite Relief Organization of Jordan to deploy its pop-up housing in refugee camps in Jordan. The partnership will allow Maawa to better understand the user experience and create a solution that will have a positive impact on millions of people around the world.