Lana: A Home, the Building Block of Community
The Essence of Home
In a world where technology allows us to communicate across continents in seconds and explore the farthest reaches of space, it is heartbreaking to know that billions still lack the basic human necessity of a home. A home is not just four walls and a roof; it is where we find security, stability, and a sense of belonging. It’s the cornerstone of every community. Yet, in today’s world, having a home is still a distant dream for too many.
Recent tragedies like the devastating earthquakes in Herat, which claimed over 1,700 lives and destroyed more than 20,000 homes, remind us how fragile life can be. In Afghanistan alone, over 450,000 refugees have returned from Pakistan, and another half a million are expected, all while the nation’s housing resources are stretched to their limits. Meanwhile, floods in Baghlan have destroyed thousands of houses, putting even more lives at risk.
The Rising Impact of Climate Change on Housing
Climate change has only intensified the global housing crisis. With more frequent and severe natural disasters—such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires—homes are destroyed, communities are displaced, and the housing supply is strained beyond capacity. Every year, climate-induced disasters force an estimated 20 million people from their homes, particularly affecting the most vulnerable populations in low-lying coastal areas and informal settlements.
This isn’t just a matter of disaster response; it’s a challenge of infrastructure and resilience. Homes built with poor materials or in vulnerable locations are more susceptible to damage from extreme events. Local governments must implement sustainable development practices and disaster risk governance to address these issues. The world needs to build over 260,000 affordable houses per day until 2030—600 million units—to meet the demand.
Introducing Lana: Building Homes, Rebuilding Lives
In response to this urgent need, we are creating Lana.
Lana, which means "bird's nest" in Persian, is more than just a shelter—it’s a lifeline. Designed as a prefabricated Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), Lana is earthquake-proof, quickly built, and affordable. It’s specifically engineered to provide rapid, safe, and sustainable housing solutions for disaster-impacted families in Afghanistan.
What sets Lana apart is its potential to turn challenges into advantages. By using the limitations of resources in Afghanistan as a strength, we’ve managed to design a fully equipped unit for less than $10,000. With economies of scale and refined processes, we believe we can bring the cost down to $5,000 per unit. If we can achieve this in a place like Afghanistan, where resources are scarce, imagine what we can do in countries with even slightly more access to resources.
Technical Specifications
Lana is built with resilience and sustainability in mind. Here are some key technical features:
100% Solar Powered: All energy requirements for lighting, heating, and power are met through solar panels, ensuring self-sufficiency
Steel Screw Pile Foundations: Provide a robust base that enhances stability against earthquakes and other loads.
Steel Frame: Forms a strong structural backbone, crucial for withstanding earhtquake, wind, and other loadsd.
Watch this short video for more technical details.
A Journey of Innovation and Resilience
Creating Lana wasn’t easy—it was the result of extensive research, collaboration with other architects and engineers, and a relentless commitment to solving real problems. After multiple prototype designs and countless discussions, we finally developed a model that not only works but also excels in the most challenging environments.
Lana is built in less than 30 days, deployed and installed on-site in just two days, and by the third day, a family moves in. It’s a permanent home, not a temporary shelter, ensuring families can resume their lives with dignity and safety. Lana is powered 100% by solar energy, rests on steel screw pile foundations, and is reinforced with a steel frame to withstand earthquakes and other natural disasters.
A Future Without Worry
With today’s resources and technology, there’s no excuse for anyone to lack a safe home or sufficient food. Lana represents a crucial step toward a future where housing is a basic amenity accessible to everyone. This is more than just survival; it’s about building a foundation for a better future.
Join Us in Building the Future
The time for theory, math, and design is over—now it’s time to act. We need your support to build the first Lana unit, and we need it now.
Here’s how you can help:
Contribute to the Lana Campaign: Take part directly by contributing at www.aseelapp.com/lana.
Share the Lana Campaign on your social media: Spread the word and raise awareness about the housing crisis and our solution.
Add the Lana Campaign link to your Instagram bio: Increase visibility and encourage your network to contribute.
Create a Supporting Campaign under Lana GC: Become part of the journey and join the community of Do-ers by creating your own Supporting Campaign for Lana.
For Organizations:
Purchase Homes: Register with Aseel Institution and place orders for Lana units to be built and deployed to families in need.
Choose Families: Select families to receive the homes or allow Aseel's team to make informed decisions based on needs and urgency.
Receive Real-Time Updates: Stay informed on the production, deployment, and installation of the homes, ensuring transparency and seeing the direct impact of your contributions.
Together, we can make a difference. The first Lana unit will go to Sabr Bibi in Herat, an elderly woman who lost everything in the earthquake. Let’s make sure she, and many others like her, have a safe place to call home.
This is our chance to build a future filled with hope, where no one has to worry about having a place to sleep at night. Lana is not just a home; it’s the building block of a stronger, more resilient community. Help us bring this vision to life.
This article was updated on Aug 29, 2024
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