Temporary housing structure with modular frames

Emergency housing for disaster victims featuring four frame modules with foldable corner connectors and panels for rapid assembly

This technology is an emergency housing structure where four frame modules—each consisting of a vertical frame and two horizontal frames joined by a first corner connector to fold or unfold at right angles—are connected by a second corner connector to form a cubic frame. Door, window, or wall panels are then inserted around the perimeter to create a self-contained living space.

Disaster victims who lost their homes to typhoons, heavy rain, wildfires, or earthquakes have typically been provided with container houses, which are designed for transport convenience rather than comfortable living. Other modular or foldable temporary housing systems often required separate utility installations, while paper houses lacked the structural integrity to withstand external forces and rain. Most existing solutions are complex, involve too many parts, take a long time to assemble and disassemble, and require significant storage space.

In this technology, horizontal connectors are rotatably fitted into the horizontal coupling ends protruding at right angles from the cubic body of the first corner connector, allowing the frames to fold and unfold. The frames are connected simply by inserting the polygonal coupling ends into the frame coupling grooves. Panels are secured by placing their edge seating ends into the stepped seating grooves on the outer surface of the frames and tightening them with reinforcement members, integrating the frame and panels. Multiple structures can be clustered by aligning their entrances, with communal facility structures placed in between. Suitable for disaster relief housing, construction site lodging, and refugee or camping sites, these units can be rapidly assembled by the victims themselves without professional help and, once finished, can be folded and stacked as flat panels for compact storage.

‍

‍

Key Features:

• First, second, third, and fourth frame modules where one end of the vertical frame and the first and second horizontal frames are joined by first corner connectors to fold or unfold at right angles
• A second corner connector that joins the other ends of the vertical frame and the first and second horizontal frames of the frame modules
• A horizontal connector rotatably coupled to the right-angled horizontal coupling end of the cubic body via a rotation support groove, with its opposite polygonal connection end inserted into the horizontal frame coupling groove
• A reinforcement member that fits tightly against the frame outer seating groove and the panel edge seating end, integrating the frame and panel sections with a fastening member

‍

This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for the development of eco-friendly indoor and outdoor temporary housing facilities for disaster relief.

‍