·
All episodes
Vanja Ošrek
Episode · #428

PAMETNA HRVATSKA Vanja Oštrek

Guest Vanja OšrekHosted by Boris ŽivkovićMay 3, 2026
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation

Natural disasters expose systemic failures, often in the most basic human need: shelter. Vanja Ošrek, an architect, saw this gap in Croatia's emergency response and named his solution "EVAP404" – a direct nod to both designated evacuation zones and the "error" of having no adequate national solution. It's a name that doesn't just describe a product, but calls out a problem. With his team at Trokut arhitektura, Ošrek designed a temporary shelter that aims to provide dignity and speed, addressing the shortcomings of standard tents and containers. His approach forces a rethinking of what emergency housing can be, from rapid assembly to long-term reusability, and how design principles can radically reduce cost and logistical friction in a crisis. His conversation reveals how a deep understanding of human psychology, logistics, and material science can converge to create solutions that are not only practical but also restore a sense of normalcy in the most challenging circumstances.

Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
The name EVAP404 is a double-edged statement: EVAP from designated evacuation zones, and 404 because, as Vanja Ošrek puts it, "we don't really have a solution for this in Croatia." Sometimes, the most honest product names don't describe what they are, but what systemic failure they aim to correct.
02
The design for EVAP404 didn't start with materials or dimensions, but with the UNHCR's Sphere Handbook — a global standard that covers not just physical shelter but also "how to prevent sexual violence and inter-racial conflicts." True disaster-response design acknowledges that preserving human dignity and social order is as critical as providing four walls.
03
Every single component of the EVAP404 is designed to be under 23 kilograms, and the team aims for two people to assemble the 16-square-meter unit in an hour. When designing for crisis, the ultimate measure of efficiency isn't just the unit's features, but how quickly and easily it can be deployed by untrained hands.
04
While a standard container occupies an entire truck trailer, twenty-four EVAP404 units can be packed onto a single one, providing shelter for 120 people. The true cost of emergency housing isn't just the unit price, but the logistical burden and carbon footprint of its transport.
05
Inside the 16-square-meter EVAP404, all furniture — including beds — folds into the walls, allowing the space to transform from a bedroom to a living area throughout the day. In temporary housing, the ability to reconfigure and personalize one's immediate environment is a critical, often overlooked, aspect of human dignity.
06
A single EVAP404 unit has a production cost of 1,000 euros, while a comparable emergency tent costs around 5,000 euros. The most impactful innovations in crisis situations often come not from adding features, but from designing a fundamentally more efficient and affordable core.
07
Unlike containers that maintain their volume whether in use or storage, the EVAP404 can be disassembled and packed into just two cubic meters. A truly sustainable temporary solution isn't just for a single crisis; it's an asset designed for repeated deployment and minimal storage footprint.
08
The EVAP404 is built from a core of four modules, but additional units can be added to create larger or differently shaped shelters, like a six-module rectangle. Modularity isn't just about efficiency in construction; it's about offering adaptable solutions that can scale with a family's needs or a community's layout.
Explore further
ScenariosBusiness challengesCardsEducational cardsTimelineTopic evolution