Brief
This challenge is presented by Linköping’s University in collaboration with MSB (Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency). Together, they contribute to strengthen Sweden’s civil preparedness and crisis management. One key area is the accessibility, safety, and relevance of shelters — critical spaces intended to protect civilians during emergencies. Linköping University itself hosts several large shelters on campus, which are part of the region’s civil protection infrastructure and could play an essential role in future crisis scenarios. MSB on the other hand, is the government authority responsible for coordinating Sweden’s crisis preparedness, civil defense, and the protection of vital societal functions during serious emergencies.
Background
Many of Sweden’s shelters were built during the 1960s, designed for brief stays of just a few hours. Today’s reality tells a different story. In modern conflicts like the war in Ukraine, civilians often spend several days or frequent short periods in shelters — not just hours. This shift in usage has exposed major gaps in how shelters are designed. In many cases, shelters rely on existing digital networks — but what happens when those networks fail? Without backup communication systems, people are left in the dark — both literally and figuratively. Meanwhile, water access and sanitation remain serious concerns. Many shelters have no running water, few if any toilets, and no facilities for washing — raising serious questions about hygiene, especially during longer stays or for vulnerable populations.
Adding to the complexity is the outdated infrastructure still in use. Each person is allocated just 0.85 square meters — an amount of space that might be manageable for a short stay but is deeply inadequate when hours turn into days. The reality is also more diverse than planners in the 1960s imagined. Shelters today must accommodate people from a wide range of backgrounds — with varying diagnoses, languages, cultural expectations, and needs — all sharing close quarters.
Challenge
How can we redesign or adapt shelters to meet the physical, mental, and social needs of civilians during extended stays? We are looking for innovative ideas that improve comfort, hygiene, communication, and psychological safety — making shelters more liveable, human-centered, and functional for the challenges of today and tomorrow.
There are also broader strategic questions at play. Given the evolving nature of modern weaponry and threats, is the current protection level of our shelters still appropriate? Could we develop smarter, more cost-effective structures that offer the necessary protection but are easier and cheaper to build? And beyond traditional shelters, are there ways to rethink protective infrastructure entirely? Could we reinforce everyday buildings — such as basements, schools, or transit stations — to function as part-time safe zones? Could homes themselves be equipped or adapted to offer some degree of safety during a crisis? Perhaps even more importantly: what simple, scalable tools or materials could help individuals protect themselves when they can’t reach a shelter?
Think beyond concrete walls — and help us redefine what protection means in a modern crisis.