Nigerian startup AllSpace is gaining international recognition for its innovative modular shelters made from recycled materials, winning accolades from both the Swarovski Foundation’s Creatives for Our Future programme and The World Around’s Young Climate Prize.
Design Inspired by Tradition and Built for Emergencies
Founded by Blossom Eromsele, AllSpace aims to address the global refugee crisis with affordable, easy-to-assemble shelters that take inspiration from traditional Nigerian vernacular architecture. Built using locally available and recycled materials—including aluminium, tarpaulin, and 3D-printed plastic—these structures are not only cost-efficient but also culturally resonant.
“It looks like typical Nigerian traditional African architecture… it just felt more like home,” Eromsele told Dezeen.
Each shelter costs only $120 and takes around four hours to assemble, making them ideal for emergency deployment in crisis zones.
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Sustainable, Comfortable, and Community-Oriented
AllSpace shelters are hexagonal in shape and set on mud-based platforms. They can be grouped to form communal or family areas, emphasizing a sense of belonging and community resilience. With features like:
- Solar power
- Cross-ventilation
- Insulating tarpaulin and dried grass layers
…these shelters offer livable conditions for up to two years, even in harsh environments.
Global Recognition Through Climate and Design Awards
Eromsele’s project was chosen by the Swarovski Foundation’s Creatives for Our Future programme, which supports sustainable design in partnership with the United Nations Office for Partnerships. Other recipients included:
- Mangesh Kurund (India) – 3D-printed “biocladding” for growing moss and algae
- Aurelie Fontan (UK) – Plant-based dyes from vegetation in polluted zones
- Azra Firmansyah (Indonesia) – Wearable vibration device for the hearing-impaired
- Moemen Sobh (Egypt) – Textiles from ocean waste
- Barimah Asare (USA) – External GPU to reduce e-waste
Additionally, AllSpace was selected as a Young Climate Prize winner by The World Around, with judges praising its ability to offer “dignified shelter in a sustainable manner.”
