Shelter

A shelter is an architectural structure or a natural formation. It can also be a combination of both. The primary purpose of a shelter is to provide protection from the local environment.

This protection can come from weather or other environmental factors. Shelters function as homes for people or through residential institutions. They can be designed to be temporary or permanent structures. This versatility allows them to serve many different human needs.

Shelter is considered a fundamental human necessity. It sits at a crucial position within Maslow's hierarchy of needs. This hierarchy ranks the things humans must have to survive. Shelter complements other physiological imperatives like air and water. It also works alongside the needs for food, rest, and clothing. Humans also require reproduction and shelter to maintain their well-being.

There are many distinct types of shelters used globally. Some are simple, such as a lean-to or a shack. Others are more complex, like an apartment or a townhouse. People also use specific structures like huts or tents. Some shelters have no walls, such as a ramada. In very cold climates, people might build a quinzhee. A quinzhee is a shelter made from a hollow mound of loose snow.

Different cultures have developed their own unique shelter traditions. The Dogon people in Africa use a shelter called a toguna. Indigenous Australians use a temporary shelter known as a mia-mia. These specific names reflect the deep connection between people and their environments.

Using local materials and traditional designs helps these groups stay protected. Such structures are vital parts of their cultural heritage.

Some shelters are built for very specific safety purposes. These structures protect people from sudden or dangerous events. For example, a blast shelter or a bunker provides intense protection. An air raid shelter is designed for safety during an attack. A fallout shelter is used to protect against radioactive particles.

These specialized buildings are often more reinforced than a standard house.

Shelters also serve various public and social functions. You might see a bus stop used for brief protection. In the British Isles, people use a public supply shelter called a bothy. There are also mountain huts for those traveling through high terrain. Some shelters are meant for specific groups, such as refugee shelters. Other examples include emergency shelters, transitional shelters, or women's shelters.

There are even animal shelters designed for non-human inhabitants.

In the 1960s, the concept of shelter became a major idea in America. It was a key concept in the Whole Earth Catalog. This occurred during the era of the American Counterculture. The catalog used the idea of shelter to intervene in architecture. It offered an alternative to the modes of teaching practiced in American academies. This movement changed how people thought about building and living.