COMPETITION ENTRY FOR THE: INTERNATIONAL YOUNG ARCHITECTS’ AWARDS AND EXHIBITION 2013: TEMPORARY SHELTERING UNITS
May 2013
SCENARIO_ Containers are still widely used as shelters in emergency camps, mainly because of their low cost, wide availability, durability and ease of transportation. Approaching our design in a realistic way, we decided to develop a low-cost-high-efficiency technological solution exploiting the practical advantages of containers while advancing their design to create a new optimized shelter unit.
The principal idea of our design is first to slice the container into six modular units. Each 1/6 container modular unit is transformed into an emergency shelter able to accommodate 3 persons (type A). This transformation is inspired by Armadillo’s shape and capacity to change form in situations of danger which stimulated the idea for expanding the 1/6 space (2.44 x 1.00 x 2.89 m) into a living unit: the Armadillo shelter. Furthermore, using the same modular container unit we designed the water facility units for toilet-shower and the kitchen.
*Armadillo: are New World, placental mammals with a leathery armor shell. Armadillo is a Spanish word meaning “little armored one” and refers to the bony plates that cover the back, head, legs, and tail. The three-banded armadillo can, curling its head and back feet and contorting its shell into a hard ball that confounds would-be predators.
The Armadillo shelter also advanced the containers’ limited protection to external climate conditions through the use of sustainable passive techniques to minimize influence from external conditions.
Ventilation: Adequate ventilation is provided through the perforated metal sheets in between the plates of the shelter.
Energy autonomy: Exploiting the power of the sun, we positioned a PV panel on each shelter specifically installed on the second plate at approximately 30 degrees angle towards South.
Protection from weather conditions:
PCM Insulation absorbs and releases heat using phase change materials that melt and solidify at room temperature. When installed in the ceiling it works day and night to stabilize indoor temperatures.
Shelter Type B
scale 1:50
Using the same modular container unit 2.44 x 1.00 x 2.89 m (1/6 of the container) we designed the water facility units, for the toilet-shower and for the kitchen.
Combining 2 Armadillo shelters with two units of water facilities we are able to provide a transitional shelter for 6 people (type B).
