In regions afflicted by disasters and high maternal mortality rates, the
occurrence of calamities amplifies the circumstances surrounding childbirth. In crisis
settings, nature and culture often face total devastation, and the existing
infrastructure for maternity care is compromised. This project strived to develop a
prototype for a transportable and secure birthing module that could be used in crisis
settings. Salutogenic and biophilic design approaches were utilized to create a
secure shelter for birthing women, serving as a temporary refuge from challenging
environments. Using research through design methodology, the project further led to
the design of a larger maternity care complex composed of multiple modules. The
proposed birthing pod, along with the developed maternity care complex,
represents an initial prototype for a portable design solution that can provide
improvements to maternal healthcare in crisis globally