Foldy House at the Nadmex Disaster Management Exhibition and Summit
Disaster management gains meaning through the right responses to the real needs encountered in the field. Organised with this approach, the Nadmex Disaster Management Fair and Summit became an important meeting point for sharing solution proposals focused on disaster preparedness, response and recovery processes. The talks held throughout the summit brought together field-based experiences on how to address temporary shelter needs.
In this context, Erdoğan Demir, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bize Project Development Inc., shared with participants the process behind the creation of Foldy House and the engineering approach behind the developed solution. The narrative conveyed was less a product presentation and more a structural response to the problems encountered in the field after a disaster.
The Fundamental Question Arising After a Disaster
The story of Foldy House began with a critical question asked in the aftermath of the February 2023 earthquakes. Erdoğan Demir described the process as follows:
“We witnessed the events on the ground during the February earthquakes. Beyond providing financial support, we considered how we could contribute to this problem using our expertise.”
For a company that has been operating in the automotive supply industry for many years and has production and engineering experience in Turkey, Germany, the UK and Russia, this question offered the opportunity to approach the accommodation issue from a different perspective. The expertise in design, R&D and production equipment development formed the basis of this process.
Operational Problems Observed in Disaster Areas
The discussion highlighted practical problems encountered in disaster areas. Key issues included the inability to deliver temporary shelter solutions to disaster areas quickly enough, the complexity of the installation process, and the need for ground preparation. Erdoğan Demir summarised the situation as follows:
“We saw that there were serious obstacles to the rapid delivery of temporary housing units to the disaster area, their installation, and the settlement of people.”
In addition to these difficulties, the volume problems created by classic container structures during transport and storage also emerged as a significant planning issue in terms of disaster management.
An Approach Developed with Foldable Architecture
The design process for Foldy House was shaped by an approach that directly addressed these issues. In the initial phase, prototypes were produced, usage scenarios in the field were observed, and the product was continuously developed based on the data obtained. Erdoğan Demir described the process as follows:
“First, we designed it and made a few prototypes. We observed the insulation and usage problems, and continued the development process with simulations and tests.”
As a result of the strength and insulation tests conducted, it was stated that the product had achieved a structure that could be quickly deployed in the field.
Floor, Installation and Ease of Use in the Field
The fact that ideal ground conditions are not always present in disaster areas became an important part of the design process. The adjustable foot system developed at this point offered a solution that could be easily installed on stabilised surfaces. Erdoğan Demir described this approach as follows:
“Finding concrete ground in disaster areas is often impossible. That’s why we designed a special adjustable foot system that adapts to the ground and provides insulation from below.”
Reducing the installation time was also central to the design. The aim was to make the structures usable in the field quickly. Demir shared the results of the trials with the following words:
“We wanted one or two people to be able to set up this structure without expending a great deal of effort. In our field trials, we saw that it became usable in about ten minutes.”
Logistical Advantage and Foldable Structure System
Foldy House’s foldable architecture provided significant space efficiency on the logistics side. Structures that take up minimal space when closed offered a serious advantage during transport. Erdoğan Demir explained this situation with a concrete example:
“We are talking about a structure that reduces to a volume of approximately sixty centimetres when folded. When unfolded, it reaches six and a half metres. This allows us to transport much more living space in the area occupied by a classic container.”
This approach enables more accommodation units to be delivered to the field in a shorter time in the event of a disaster.
Three Models Developed for Different Scenarios
At the Nadmex Disaster Management Fair and Summit, it was shared how Foldy House’s three core models respond to different needs. Foldy Smart was positioned as an operationally focused solution for offices and contact points. Foldy Flex offered a spacious and flexible interior volume adaptable to different scenarios such as field hospitals, canteens, dormitories, or disaster management centres. Foldy Nomad, on the other hand, was designed as an independent living space to meet the temporary accommodation needs of a family, with a layout including two rooms, a living area, kitchen and bathroom.
Erdoğan Demir summarised the basis of this approach as follows:
“When designing these structures, we took different areas of use into consideration. We aimed for a modular and convertible structure.”
Conclusion
The Nadmex Disaster Management Fair and Summit provided a strong platform for sharing Foldy House’s motivation and field-based engineering approach. The importance of solutions that are quick to set up, easy to transport and logistically efficient in the disaster preparedness process was once again highlighted at this meeting.
Foldy House continues to advance its solutions for temporary shelter needs by learning from the field.
