Instant House: Emergency Shelter Ready in One Hour
The second technology presented was the Instant House, an inflatable, foam-reinforced emergency shelter developed by Professor Keisuke Kitagawa of the Nagoya Institute of Technology. Created in response to student questions after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, the design focuses on rapid deployment, affordability and comfort.
Kitagawa demonstrated how an Instant House can be assembled in approximately one hour using only an air blower and insulation spray—without heavy machinery or specialized construction teams.
“If disaster victims or refugees can build their own shelter quickly and safely, it restores dignity and stability,” Kitagawa said. “Instant House is lightweight, low-cost and durable enough to withstand heavy snow, extreme temperatures and even typhoon-level winds.”
The structures have been deployed worldwide, including Turkey, Syria, Morocco, Southeast Asia, and recently during Japan’s New Year’s Day earthquake. More than 250 units were installed in just three months to support displaced residents.
Kitagawa added that new variations—such as ultra-light 80-kg flat-packed models and drone-deliverable versions—are being developed for faster deployment in hard-to-reach areas.
A Whole-of-Nation Approach for Shared Regional Resilience
The Japanese government stressed that its disaster-resilience model relies on a whole-of-nation approach, combining government policies, private-sector capabilities and academic expertise. This collaboration, officials said, is essential for building resilient societies across Asia, where extreme weather and seismic events are becoming more frequent.
AloJapan.com