The escalation of war run by the Russian Federation against Ukraine has caused one of the largest housing crises in the world. As a result of the hostilities, more than 14 million Ukrainians have become refugees and internally displaced persons. This paper aims to develop guidelines for the selection of an implementation strategy for aid architecture in the context of the armed conflict in Ukraine. The scope of the work includes: research, including materials research; design, including adaptation of designs to Polish market and climatic conditions; prototyping and implementation of two types of housing aid architecture: emergency shelters and temporary housing. The projects presented in the article by arch. Shigeru Ban: Paper Partition System and Styrofoam Housing System were developed and executed between March and September 2022.

Temporary pavilions play an important role as experimental fields for architects, designers, and engineers, in addition to providing exhibition spaces. Novel structural and formal solutions applied in pavilions also can give them an unusual appearance that attracts the eyesight of spectators. In this article, the authors explore the possibility of combining structural novelty, visual attractiveness, and low cost in the design and construction of a temporary pavilion. For that purpose, an innovative structural system and design approach was applied, i.e., a membrane structure was designed in Rhino and Grasshopper environments with the use of the Kiwi!3D IsoGeometric analysis tool. The designed pavilion, named Obverse/Reverse, was built in Opole, Poland, for the occasion of World Architecture Day in July 2019. The design and the construction were performed by the authors in cooperation with students belonging to the Humanization of Urban Environment organization from the Faculty of Architecture Wroclaw University of Science and Technology. The resultant pavilion proved the potential of obtaining a low-budget but visually attractive architectural solution with the adaption of parametrical design tools and some scientific background with innovative structural systems.

Paper and cardboard elements can be used as a pro-ecological building material. To meet the safety and usage requirements paper elements need to be impregnated, however, most impregnation methods have a negative impact on the environmental performance of the elements. This article describes research that was conducted in order to determine the most effective technique of paperboard impregnation against water and humidity. Particular attention was given to biodegradable coatings, as several oil-based and wax-based wood impregnates were used. The samples were tested for 24 hours in immersion and for 48 hours in high air humidity. Water uptake (measured by the change in mass and thickness), delamination and deformation of samples were monitored. As a result, the basic characteristic of the tested impregnation methods was established – water and water vapour absorption, deformation or delamination after immersion. The lowest water and water vapour absorption was observed in samples impregnated with composed coatings of oils and waxes.

The tense international situation caused by the war in Ukraine and the increase in global armed conflicts has led to a greater need for civilian protection. Since Russia’s attack on Ukraine in February 2022, neighbouring countries have taken measures to strengthen their defence, including civil protection initiatives. However, the availability and condition of shelter facilities in Central and Eastern Europe remain insufficient. This article aims to analyse the status of civilian shelters in Poland in the event of armed conflict and to establish design guidelines for these facilities. The research was conducted using available literature, studies on the construction and operation of shelters, and an analysis of recent government documents. When designing shelters for civilians, a comprehensive approach is crucial. Important factors should include the location, especially in urban areas, suitable functional and spatial planning, the potential use of shelters during peacetime, and their integration into a wider protection strategy.