From 2015-2017 we set up Brighton Shelter Build with Darren Houghamand became involved in the refugee crisis in northern France. we created a team building flat pack shelters in Brighton and transported them to the Calais refugee camp 'the jungle'.
The mayor of Dunkirk, working with Medicine sans frontier, then invited us to design a children's centre for the first official camp 'La Liniere' outside Dunkirk.
we managed the supply and build in collaboration with volunteers from another Brighton based charity The hummingbird Project and together created the Dunkirk family centre.
The original camp in Dunkirk was two foot under water when we visited.
The prototype shelter frame in the Brighton workshop.
Each bundle was a flat packed shelter, ready to be shipped to France.
The shelters were then erected by our team with the help of the people who were going to use them.
The shelters were wrapped in fire retardant, waterproof tarp and insulated with wool blankets.
The new camp 'La Liniere' in Dunkirk.
A hand drawn concept of what we went on to build.
There were strict design criteria for the placement within the camp.
We had multiple teams of volunteer capenters so clear plans were a must!
The framework for the building was made as panels in a temporary workshop and erected on site.
The building had to be lowcost whilst adhering to the local planning and building control laws.
A Brighton based company provided planters which were attached around each building. These provided a growing space, rain water retention and anchorage in high winds.
We joined the buildings with a fence to give a sense of the schools perimeters.
Lots of different languages were spoken within the centre so a universal sign was needed. (Hand drawn with a plasma-cutter in 3mm steel).
The final stages of the build were carried out with plenty of kids in situ!
