Exercise 1

SKETCH PROBLEM 1: Improvisational Shelter Part I
Assigned: April 1, 2019
Due: Pinup, April 8, 2019 (in studio or TBA)

Desk Crits: 4.3.19,  Small-group pinups 4.5.19

OBJECTIVE:

Imagine you are part of a forcibly displaced community suffering from an epidemic. The emergency care medical team sets up medical treatment structures. You are handed bamboo, cord, and fabric and asked to make your own shelter. A cold front is about to move in. You have less than a day to get under cover. Make a 96 square foot fabric structure for four overnight lodgers. Produce two different schemes. This is based upon a true story.[1]

BACKGROUND READING:

See the article by Karin Huster, “Why Couldn’t My Ebola Treatment Center Save This Baby?”, Opinion Section, New York Times, January 30, 2019 (article is linked to bibliography).

PEDAGOGY:

By trying to solve this design exercise without having much experience in fabric structures, you will likely encounter difficulties in making the shelter stand up.  However, the insights you may gain by struggling to come up with a solution now may give you more insight into some of the approaches we will look at afterwards. For now, see where your intuition takes you.

MATERIALS:

Use stretch fabric materials for retraction and unfurling, bamboo or bendable hard-wire, waxed cord, hobbyist jewelry connectors. Joanne Fabric and Craft and Michael’s, both located in Eugene, should have most of what you need. The studio will provide some of this for you.

INCLUDE:

  • One entrance/exit
  • Operable openings for fresh air and natural light.
  • Four places for sleeping.
  • Four raised surfaces for dining/writing
  • Natural lighting & minimal artificial lighting if any.
  • Innovative anchorage system.

EXCLUDE:

  • Washing or WC facilities.
  • Slab, flooring or foundation.

REQUIREMENTS:

  • Explore the structure at anywhere from ¼” up to 1” scale (i.e., ½” = 1’).
  • Primary requirement:
    • Investigate structure primarily in physical model form
  • Secondary requirement:
    • Computer rendering or hand-sketch showing at least one plan and one section with ground conditions. For 4.8.18, printout on 11” x 17” or greater size.

SCENARIOS:

  • Eating/sleeping/meeting.
  • Warm day ventilation/cold day or night insulation.
  • Full retraction and unfurling of unit.

NOTES:

  • Describe hardware and materials used (e.g., bamboo, architecture fabric, etc.).
  • Help each other with respect to sharing techniques.
  • Sewing tutorial to be arrange in Craft-Center (TBA).

[1]Prof. Tim Cunningham’s personal recollection in the field as a member of Nurses Without Borders, seminar talk, 1.29.19, ARCH 5500/8500 Seminar: http://web.arch.virginia.edu/arch5500/RapidShelterDisplacedPeople/home.html