In the wake of the massive 2010 Haiti earthquake, which left 1.5 million people homeless, the design of temporary urban shelters became ever more significant—and spawned our own design project. Our challenge was to create a shelter, with a purpose of our choice, given the following constraints: the dimensions may be no larger than a 12’ cube and the only structural materials provided were ½” plywood sheets and tarpaulins.
The goal of the ISOPODA mobile shelter is to provide a structure that is efficient, durable, mobile, versatile, and semi-permanent. It is dynamic in both function and purpose.
After research, my teammate, Jamie, and I determined our additional constraints: urban and suburban locations; tropical, arid, and temperate climates; made for 1 adult + 2 children or 2 adults whom are in a situation that can range between common urban to disaster-caused homelessness. The ISOPODA mobile shelter is a collapsible, 5’ tall/deep structure that unfolds at a central hinge. The exterior is supported by compression with flexible 1/2” PVC pipe. It features a closable interior and a connection capability to another identical shelter with a closeable vestibule between them, allowing for expansion by inhabitants.
Concept Models
Shop Drawings
Assembly
While Jamie and I worked together on the project constraints and design of the shelter’s physical connections, I did much of the design and all drawings (shop drawings, presentation, and CNC cut files) and she did much of the assembly of the physical shelters.
