ArchDaily Streams Documentary The Human Shelter for Free
The documentary, directed by Boris Bertram and funded by IKEA, explores how individuals build homes in challenging global conditions.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Documentary
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ArchDaily has launched a free streaming period for the documentary film The Human Shelter, which investigates the concept of home across diverse global environments. The film, directed by Boris Bertram, captures personal narratives from four continents to understand how people create shelter amid migration and climate change.
Why it matters
The project serves as a knowledge-gathering effort to inform future residential creation in the face of shifting environmental and social realities. By highlighting how individuals adapt their living spaces to challenging conditions, the film provides insight into the essential human need for shelter.
The one-hour documentary features subtitles in six languages and draws from footage captured across nine countries and four continents. It was previously presented as part of a UN-Habitat global campaign involving 193 countries.
The players
Boris Bertram
He is the director of The Human Shelter and oversaw the two-year production process of the film.
IKEA
This global furniture and home accessories corporation served as the primary funder for the documentary project.
ArchDaily
This architecture platform is the digital host currently streaming the documentary for a limited free window.
UN-Habitat
This United Nations agency for human settlements previously utilized the film as a core component of a 193-country global campaign.
MoMA
The Museum of Modern Art in New York previously hosted a screening of the documentary in 2020.
The details
The production process spanned more than two years and utilized the concept of coincidence to determine locations and structure the film chapters. It includes contributions from countries such as Norway, Iraq, the United States, Nigeria, Japan, Uganda, and Iceland.
Timeline
The documentary was screened at MoMA in New York in 2020.
Online streaming began and the Copenhagen screening occurred on October 29, 2026.
The free streaming period on ArchDaily concludes on November 29, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This release follows the precedent established by the UN-Habitat global campaign, which utilized the film to raise awareness for international housing challenges. By moving to digital streaming platforms, the project expands its influence beyond traditional institutional and museum screenings.
International audiences can access the film for free through the ArchDaily website until the end of November 2026. The documentary includes subtitles in six languages, allowing for wider accessibility across diverse linguistic regions.
The takeaway
The Human Shelter highlights the universal adaptability of humans when creating living spaces under diverse and often difficult environments. Viewers can use this perspective to better understand the intersection of climate change, migration, and residential architecture.
What happens next
The free access period for the film on the ArchDaily platform is scheduled to conclude on November 29, 2026.
Further reading
Explore more cinematic projects in our Documentary section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ArchDaily.
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