Design Brief
The homeless shelter project makes use of design as an investigative and discovery process. It looked at the investigation of the topic (dwelling) through its use in design and the nature of the building type (homeless shelter) by the investigation of it through its design, using the topic as the generator.
Research
Dwelling:
Dwelling in itself is a fundamental human activity, yet it can carry with it a complex and convoluting explanation.
From “to stay in place” to the fullness of the fourfold of earth sky divinities and mortals. There appears to be a far deeper idea of dwelling than what we consider as its surface value.
However, when you consider it in its simplest form, dwelling is something like “making yourself at home”. Hence, I considered it in this way, especially as it would inform the design and embodiment of a homeless shelter. Therefore, I use the idea of dwelling and homeliness (or what I refer to as homeness) interchangeably. I then went through the exploration of what that would mean.
When fully considered, I believe that dwelling/home is more about the experience of a place. It infuses emotions and memories and can incorporate a sense of belonging and interaction with others.
I, therefore, thought that dwelling is more to do with experiences shared with others, such as your family. It is not so much to do with the physical structure.
Therefore, home/dwelling appears to be more based on the feeling of a specific experience or situation rather than the creation of a place.
I think, therefore, that architecture cannot create dwelling. It can only create spaces that can encourage dwelling which is the gathering of emotions and accumulation of memories.
It can also provide the fundamental necessities of providing security, protection and comfort to its users.
Homeless Shelter
The design of the Homeless Shelter further recognized that in order to for “dwelling” to have a chance of occurring, it would need for the dwellers to be able to stay longer than the traditional shelter.
It would also need to be able to encourage some primary elements that would be required to create a level of homeness to homeless persons, which were as follows:
- Personalization: including being able to create and control the appearance of their surroundings, from posters to furniture arrangement.
- Activities: in order to occupy the minds of the dwellers, such as entertainment, games, conversations, television and music.
- Leisure: such as art, craft, gardening and other recreational activities.
- Company: and being able to share with neighbours so that the interaction between them becomes very familiar.
- Familiarity: and the notion of knowing where things are, being able to collect stuff and ground yourself in one place.
- Comfort: where one could find places for different moods and dispositions. Whether it is the chatter of conversations or the quiet and peace with a book.
- Memories: and creating a space that encourages memory-lasting activities.
I further recognized that the idea of Familiarity was a strong point for encouraging dwelling.
For example, our home is home because we are most familiar with it and the people who live there. If I spend most of my time driving a truck which is where I am most familiar, then dwelling occurs in the truck.
Therefore creating elements that are familiar to the homeless, such as the openness of a street or park, is important.
These elements add to the traditional elements of a home. Things like the Kitchen being the heart of the home. In addition, the Dining Room could be a place where you can share a meal with friends and family. This arrangement would further assist in the strengthening of familiarity and the encouragement of dwelling.
Context and Overview
A site near Bridgetown, the capital city of Barbados, was chosen for the project. The reason Barbados was selected is that the Homeless situation there is different to North America. The country is small and hence the homeless tend not to move from place to place for shelter.
Therefore, there is a greater opportunity for the homeless to settle in a shelter. Hence, they can become familiar with it and real dwelling can occur. I also designed it for male dwellers since Barbados tends not to have a lot of homeless women and families. Other agencies usually take care of women and children.
Design Approach
Since the project brief required the homeless shelter to take on a sense of dwelling.
The design creates a series of boxes along vertically stacked streets to give the idea of openness and familiarity.
Each box would accommodate an individual who can personalise it. It is a space they can feel secure and grounded yet open out to neighbouring boxes. This arrangement creates a sense of community and facilitates the opportunity to feel a connection and belonging.
The boxes are within a structural framework with space all around each of them. This layout gives a sense of individuality and openness. Units also come with patios and other niches. Hence, dwellers can involve themselves in various forms of activity and have the opportunity to create personalized experiences.
Design Layout
The ground floor is open to use by the dwellers as well as other homeless people. It carries spaces for various support services such as job and substance abuse counselling.
On the upper floors, on the long streets of the “L”, are the residences. The shorter leg has workshops and activity rooms that will create spaces to make and build things. These spaces not only increase and improve your skills but create memory-building activities.
At the corner of the “L” are large recreational areas for activities.
The sheltered and open dining area and kitchen on the ground floor allow the residents and other homeless people to come in and share a meal like you would in a traditional home setting.
There is also a recreational area at that level.
This is all with the intent of creating spaces that encourage memory-building activities. Hence, creating chances to get familiar with the shelter and the people who dwell there.
Materials and Construction
The building uses materials such as ship-lapped boarding and corrugated metal. It also incorporates bright-coloured walls.,
These are materials and techniques that are traditional and familiar in the Barbadian context.