Through a partnership which began in 2022, MVRDV has developed a modular, multi-functional clubhouse for KLABU ("club" in Swahili), a social enterprise from Amsterdam that supports refugees in rebuilding their lives through the joy, pride, and hope of sports. KLABU builds clubhouses in refugee camps, settlements, and cities that provide access to sports equipment, activities, TV broadcasts, and Wi-Fi, creating a welcoming and inclusive community space. The new clubhouse, which helps deliver on KLABU’s commitment to support refugees through the power of sport, is housed inside a shipping container. An innovative and easily repeatable design, the clubhouse provides a flexible, safe, and engaging space for refugees to connect and play.

The KLABU clubhouse design is currently in its third iteration, with the latest version soon to be installed at the Azraq refugee camp in Jordan, which is home to approximately 41,000 Syrian refugees. This follows clubhouses designed by MVRDV operating in the Waraotuma a Tuaranoko shelter in Boa Vista, Brazil, supporting indigenous Venezuelans who had to flee their country, and the M’bera refugee camp in Mauritania, which provides safety for 100,000 Malian refugees. Each iteration of the clubhouse is designed in collaboration with and following feedback from KLABU, TCHAI, (the practice responsible for fabrication and fitout), and clubhouse managers in the camps.

The KLABU Clubhouse at the M'bera refugee shelter in Mauritania © Coco Olakunle

“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.

The KLABU Clubhouse at the M'bera refugee shelter in Mauritania © Coco Olakunle

The shipping container is clad in an eye-catching orange exterior, laser-cut with the KLABU logo to create a recognisable and welcoming presence. The orange of the exterior is contrasted by a sky-blue interior with compact, modular, and adaptive interior installations. These offer ample storage space, ensuring all clubhouse materials can be pre-loaded into the container prior to shipping and readily accessed by clubhouse managers once mounted. Interior fixtures have been chosen for durability and ease of transit through customs.

The KLABU Clubhouse at the M'bera refugee shelter in Mauritania © Coco Olakunle

In the third iteration of the design, the clubhouse uses an “open side” container, which in addition to doors at the end of the container, also opens along its longer, 20-foot side. This delivers greater adaptability and visibility for the clubhouse, incorporating a substantial window open to the public, a canopy, and a large television screen, while ensuring that the overall structure maintains its necessarily robust and functional characteristics. The canopy provides shade during the day, extending the use of the clubhouse to a range of other activities, including sports such as table tennis and other social activities.

The design enables solar panels to be mounted to the roof to deliver renewable energy. Recognising the need to support activities beyond sports including education, multiple electricity and charging points and wireless internet capacity are also included to provide connections for mobile and portable devices. The design also addresses the need for durability and adaptability to different circumstances, with the robust structure of the shipping container helping protect against the many climates found in refugee camps around the world.

The KLABU Clubhouse at the M'bera refugee shelter in Mauritania © Coco Olakunle

"Sometimes the most powerful design comes from the simplest concept. Taking a shipping container, ordinarily the most mundane, everyday object, and transforming it into a bright, multi-functional clubhouse providing sports opportunities for refugees has been a deeply rewarding challenge", says Gideon Maasland, director at MVRDV. "For all of us at MVRDV, to have played a part in enhancing the meaningful impact KLABU has on vulnerable communities is humbling. We will continue to work with KLABU on new iterations of the clubhouse to help support the needs of refugees.”

MVRDV's involvement focused on the project’s need for simplicity and versatility. The new clubhouse typology is designed for easy assembly, disassembly, and transportation, making it adaptable to various locations and contexts. This inherent flexibility ensures that the clubhouse can be readily deployed to different refugee communities, extending its reach and impact. KLABU's vision is to replicate this model in over 50 locations within the next 10 years, creating a network of safe and vibrant spaces where refugees can connect, play, and thrive. So far, they have installed clubhouses in seven locations, with more than 36,000 members participating.

The KLABU Clubhouse at the M'bera refugee shelter in Mauritania © Coco Olakunle

This ambitious project has been made possible by the generous contributions of numerous partners including MVRDV, all of whom have dedicated their time and resources free of charge to support KLABU's mission, and are committed to driving positive social change and improving the lives of vulnerable communities. In its mission to become the world’s biggest sports club, individuals and companies globally are also encouraged to become KLABU members by creating teamwear for their own teams, purchasing sports kits, and joining KLABU workouts or other social activities.

See more of the KLABU Clubhouse here.