By Pragya Chauhan

To cater to the challenges posed due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, a  group of architects, designers, engineers and students volunteering under the umbrella of CHHAT - a student startup foundation - have envisioned a non-profit proposal for Quarantine cells which will not only help COVID-19 patients for isolation but can also be used as a shelter for migrant labourers and people stranded due to nationwide emergency lockdown. Under the leadership of Prof. Nirav Hirpara from Vadodara Design Academy, the project is coordinated by Architect Sapan Hirpara (Anand) while the core team comprises Ar. Anoli Shah (Hyderabad), Ar. Arihant Bajaj (Indore), Ar. Chetak Mistry (Mehsana), Ar. Durjoy Biswas (Kolkata), Dwij Hirpara (Anand), Ar. Gazelle Modi (Ahmedabad), Ar. Gunjan Modi (Surat), Ar. Himalay Goraniya (Porbandar), Ar.Karan Divecha (Vadodara) and Sakshi Pawar (Goa).

CHHAT - Centre for Human Habitat and Alternative Technology provides expertise in designing and executing emergent structures that can provide refuge to a wide spectrum of people and in 2016, the foundation won the Buckminster Fuller Challenge which is the highest award for making a socially responsible design for humanity's most pressing issues of instant shelter.

The design proposal has evolved considering various factors regarding context, availability of materials, cost, time, and efficiency to build. Based on these, the isolation cell is proposed in three different materials such as Bamboo, PVC pipe, and Steel Scaffolding. From the said options, quarantine cells with bamboo and high-density fabric have been prototyped with the support from the Rotary Club of Anand Round Town and cost less than 1500 Rupees. This design solution is not only cost-efficient but also easy to deploy and can be built in under half an hour. The design of the cell is such that it can be replicated easily to form a cluster and can be placed in both indoor as well as shaded outdoor conditions.

Currently, the design of Quarantine Cell is approved by the government of Gujarat and is projected live with over 150 units of bamboo cells being implemented in red zone hotspots of Khambhat, Petlad and Anand district of Gujarat. As of 10th May 2020, the team has installed 75 isolation cells in Anand district of Gujarat. These cells are currently functioning as Outdoor Diagnosis Centre for health checkups, Temporary Police Outposts and Holding Centers. They have been installed at various entry points to the district. With the capacity of building 200+ cells each week, the team is in the process of gathering funding and plans to help thousands through deploying them with the help of CHHAT volunteers already placed at various locations across the country. To contribute to the cause please contact info.chhat@gmail.com.

Check out photos of execution, delivery map and the team behind the Quarantine Cell below.

To know more about CHHAT (Center for Human Habitat and Alternative Technology) and their recent works, click here.