How can we adequately provide housing when disaster strikes? Catastrophes come in a variety of forms, be they weather-related (hurricanes, floods and droughts) or society-driven (resulting from civil disorder or poverty), instantaneous (earthquakes, tsunamis) or gradual (rising sea levels). Yet all urgently demand safe, sustainable housing designs that are cheap to build, environmentally friendly, and hardy enough to withstand severe environmental conditions. Not only is there climate change to contend with, there are millions of people, right now, who do lack safe or adequate housing.

In Urgent Architecture, Bridgette Meinhold showcases 40 successful emergency and long-term housing projects-from repurposed shipping containers to sandbag homes. She surveys successful structures as well as highlighting promising projects that are still being developed. Every one is quickly deployable, affordable and sustainable. This book is an essential resource for those who are interested in green building, sustainable design, eco-friendly materials, affordable housing, material reuse and humanitarian relief.