“Our partnership with MVRDV has allowed us to scale our clubhouse model and transform a simple shipping container into a vibrant, inclusive space where refugees can find joy and hope through sport”, says Jan van Hövell, the founder of KLABU. “This collaboration is a testament to what can be achieved when design meets a purpose – creating opportunities for people to play, learn, and dream together, no matter where they are.”
The basis of the clubhouse is a modified ISO dry shipping container, chosen for its durability, security, and ease of transport. By using a shipping container as the base, KLABU can deliver both the physical clubhouse structure and the necessary sports equipment in one go, forming a “flat-packed” sports clubhouse. Reusable in the same or multiple locations, the clubhouse provides a scalable model for sports opportunities that can easily be replicated to support a global population of forcibly displaced people which now exceeds 120 million. The clubhouse becomes a colourful and uplifting focal point in the camps, where refugees can gain quick and safe access to a variety of the most popular sports activities – creating sporting, social, and personal connections in these vulnerable communities.
