Machine helps rebuild war-torn areas by turning rubble into bricks

The Australian nonprofit has been shipping its small factories to support recovery efforts in Ukraine.
 By 
Teodosia Dobriyanova
 on 
A Mashable collage a yellow arrows pointing at  three of the blocks (foreground). The background image is a drone shot of destroyed buildings in Ukraine.
Watch Next

From quick hits to deep dives, this Mashable series cuts through the noise to explain what on Earth is going on and what you should know about it.


Founded by engineers from Perth, Australia, Mobile Crisis Construction is a nonprofit creating machines that turn debris – cement, glass, and local raw materials — into interlocking blocks, just like a Lego set. Their design allows even untrained workers to build housing, and do so quickly, which is crucial in areas where shelling has destroyed the homes of entire communities.

The nonprofit began operations in an attempt to help rebuilding efforts in Ukraine after witnessing the destruction imposed by Russia's full-scale invasion.

A long-term goal for Mobile Crisis Construction is to deploy their machines in other war-torn countries too, but the biggest challenge ahead is the cost of producing a single mobile factory, which currently amounts to $120 000 AUD per unit. To continue their work and expand beyond Ukraine, the nonprofit is currently raising donations.

Picture of Teodosia
Teodosia Dobriyanova
Video Producer

Teodosia is a video producer at Mashable UK, focussing on stories about climate resilience, urban development, and social good.


More from Mashable Now
How a digital tool brought Notre-Dame back to life in record time
Against a blue grid background,  3D digital twin of Notre-Dame is placed next to an image of the completed building

A wounded sea turtle swims again thanks to 3D printed harness
Photograph shows Charlotte the sea turtle swimming under water after she's been fit with the 3D-printed harness

F1 racer takes life-size Lego car for a spin
Two McLaren P1s appear to be racing each other – the Lego-made version on the front and the original at the back. Caption reads: "Lego Racer"

Land, air, and space footage captures the surging Hurricane Milton
Satellite footage captures Hurricane Milton as is brews near Florida's West Coast


Latest Videos

Stephen Colbert reacts to the Artemis II moon mission
A man in a suit stands on a talk show stage, gesturing.


'The Daily Show' reacts to judge halting Trump's White House ballroom
Desi Lydic presents "The Daily Show" beside an image of Donald Trump.


A24's 'Mother Mary' trailer is worth it for the FKA twigs track
Anne Hathway is dressed in a red pop star outfit with religious overtones in a film still from "Mother Mary."

Jon Stewart has a brutal reaction to Trump waffling about pens
A man in a suit sitting behind a talk show desk looks angry. In the top left is an image of the president holding up a pen.

Stephen Colbert gleefully recaps the best signs at the 'No Kings' protest
A man in a suit stands on a talk show stage, smiling. The caption at the bottom reads, "I like that one."

Riz Ahmed is troublingly intense in new 'SNL UK' promo
A close-up of a man grinning in a slightly creepy way.


The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!