Better Shelters are temporary homes designed to replace tents or other types of shelters in refugee camps that assemble in just 4 hours. Designed by Johan Karlsson, Dennis Kanter, Christian Gustafsson, John van Leer, Tim de Haas, Nicolò Barlera, UNHCR (Agency of United Nations for Refugees) and the IKEA Foundation were immediately a great success and, starting from 2013, over 65 million have been sold worldwide. It is a prefabricated building with a usable surface of 17.5 square meters, made of recycled plastic with a solar panel on the roof for energy production. The whole structure is foldable and therefore portable and can accommodate a family of 7. The “Better Shelters” project won the Beazley Design of the Year award, dedicated to the best design projects and awarded by the Museum of London Design for its eco-compatibility and social sustainability.
In 2021 Marcegaglia Foundation participates in the “Structure” project of the Better Shelter social enterprise which aims to produce and distribute 10,000 units, helping to cover the construction costs of 30 prefabricated buildings to improve the living conditions of refugee women who can improve their own daily life and safety.