Designing for Dignity
Housing Innovation Lab
As a response to the 2022 floods, Rizq began its initiative to create climate-resilient, low-cost shelters using local materials and community-led construction in different ecological zones. The Housing Innovation Lab aims to make safe and affordable housing accessible to all.
Introduction to the Brand
What is Housing Innovation Lab?
Our Impact
Building Communities;
Securing Futures
500+
houses constructed
5+
communities developed
4
new housing models developed
120
global case studies conducted
Problem Statement
What is the Challenge?
Floods and climate shocks destroy homes and displace millions, while conventional reconstruction is often costly, unsustainable, and inaccessible for vulnerable families.
9+ million
People in Pakistan remain homeless or inadequately housed.
1.7 million+
People displaced in Sindh by 2022 floods.
26%
Cost Saving on using AAC bricks instead of traditional clay bricks.
Vision and Mission
What We Aim to Do
Our Vision
To reimagine and scale housing solutions that are affordable, sustainable, and dignified—building resilience for communities most vulnerable to climate change.
Mission
To research, design, and scale low-cost, climate-adaptive, and disaster-resilient housing models for diverse rural and urban contexts—integrating local materials, community skills, and sustainable construction to enhance resilience, reduce risk, promote environmental sustainability, and strengthen livelihoods.
Initiation Story
The Start of Housing Innovation Lab
Following the 2022 floods, Rizq delivered relief aid to
displaced communities across Sindh. We quickly realized that
reintegration into society required more than temporary
assistance - it demanded the basic necessity of shelter.
Existing housing models were often neither affordable nor
sustainable, leaving vulnerable families at continued risk.
To
address this, we partnered with the Heritage Foundation to pilot
home construction under Yasmeen Lari’s Barefoot Social
Architecture (BASA) model. The success of this pilot proved that
low-cost, community-built housing could be both dignified and
durable.
Recognizing the growing urgency—driven by
Pakistan’s increasing exposure to climate change and the
mounting pressures on urban housing from rural-to-urban
migration—we established the Housing Innovation Lab (HIL),
Pakistan’s first dedicated housing research center.
Core Offerings
What Makes Us Unique?
Climate-Resilient Housing Prototypes
Community Architecture & Youth Training
Livelihood Linkages & Microenterprise
R&D & Partnerships
Integrated Ecosystem Planning
SDG Alignment
How We Ensure Sustainability
1
No
poverty
8
decent work and
Economic growth
12
Responsible
consumption
and production
11
Sustainable cities
and communities
13
Climate
Change
Read More Insights
Featured Blogs & Stories
Rizq’s Emergency Relief During the 2022 Floods
In 2022, Pakistan experienced one of the most devastating climate disasters in its history. Torrential monsoon rains and overflowing rivers displaced millions, destroyed homes and livelihoods, and exposed glaring vulnerabilities in healthcare, housing, and food security. Amid this unprecedented crisis, Rizq—a social enterprise committed to ending hunger—pivoted from its traditional food security programs to launch an extensive emergency relief operation, becoming one of the few organizations delivering structured aid at scale when disaster struck.
Read Blog
Testimonials
Hear From the People
The flood water (in 2022) was so severe that for two months, we couldn’t even find firewood to cook. Our children would travel miles to find any and we often wouldn’t eat for days. Our houses were drowned and we had nothing to rebuild. Today, our children are comfortably living in the shelter of these homes that we all built together.
Nasreen
Local from Mirpur Khas
Rizq teams not only built homes for us, but also provided solar panels, stoves and toilets. I work with them by going to homes and encouraging women to take part in the building process. All of us have collectively rebuilt this community with Rizq.
Rasheeda
Community leader from Mirpur Khas
Program Partners
Partnering For A Sustainable Future
Some of our key partners who have been instrumental in bringing our vision to life.
View All Partners
Gallery
Through The Camera Lens
Support Us
Build An Eco-friendly House!
Become a part of our mission to help provide the fundamental right of a safe, secure home available to all. With your support, we can reach more vulnerable communities and construct eco-friendly, affordable housing solutions.