Urban Shelter+ emerged during the 2020 lockdowns, where urban migrant workers and homeless communities were left without dignified shelter. Field observations and direct work with affected people revealed the urgent need for scalable, fast-to-deploy, and human-centric housing.

Our solution: a portable, modular housing kit made of slotted angles and MLP board panels—upcycled from urban waste streams—and simple fasteners. The design is flexible, weather-resistant, and adaptable for various uses, including post-disaster shelters, mobile clinics, temporary classrooms, and more.

Each unit is:

• Tool-free or low-tool buildable
• Reusable and expandable
• Designed for self-assembly by community members

With three tested prototypes, we’ve incorporated feedback from real-world usage during volunteer co-building sessions in Bangalore. The vision is open-source: we aim to scale the Shelter+ model by publishing manuals, hosting buildathons, and forming on-ground training ecosystems.

Urban Shelter+ promotes resilience, empowerment, and sustainability through:

Dignified Housing Access:
Immediate, private shelter for people displaced by disasters, evictions, or poverty.
Community Skill Transfer:
Modular shelter designs that can be taught, modified, and maintained locally—no skilled labor required.
Circular Construction:
Use of MLP waste, recycled plastics, slotted angles, and sustainable canvases to reduce landfill loads.
Scalability and Flexibility:
Configurable for single users, families, or community spaces, adaptable to terrain and climate.

Metrics so far:

• 5 full-scale shelters prototyped
• ₹1.2 lakhs per unit (materials + build)
• Shelter built in under 24 hours by 3 people
• Accommodates up to 4 people comfortably

Beyond shelter, Urban Shelter+ restores dignity, creates job opportunities, and engages communities in shaping their built environments.

Sampat Althur is the founder of Pop-Up Housing Innovation, a social innovation organization working on improving sustainable housing and infrastructure in low income communities in India. Using latest advancements in industrial construction, sustainability and hands on volunteering, Sampat is simplifying housing and enabling infrastructure development in marginalized communities.

Key Team Members
Ar.Channveer Shankad – Project Lead, Architect & Designer
Mr.Rajanna – Structural Fabrication Consultant
Anjali K – Visual Documentation
Aishwarya R – Community Engagement & Workshops

Pop-Up Housing is addressing the global need for sustainable housing solutions by providing low-cost, easy-to-install housing kits for the urban poor, migrant populations, and social relief organizations.
The Making of Pop-Up Rooms. A G 1 Structure on unused Rooftop. Using Industrial waste slotted angle frames earlier used for storage racks and Mezzanine floor in industries and shops. Repurposing them for affordable rental housing for students and migrants
DIY Housing
Building a Flood Relief Shelter cum Anganwadi for a low income waste picker community in Bangalore with Hasiru Dala. Elevated Floor, Recyclable boltable Slotted angle frames, Recycled Plastic Wall sheets. Weldless joinery, Modular, low cost Sustainable In
We are thrilled to announce the progress of our groundbreaking project - the transformation of urban rooftops into affordable rental housing for students and workers in Peri Urban and Low income communities at Pop-Up Rooms. By repurposing rooftops, indust