Recovery from the ill-effects of forcible displacement is complex. The effects may include physical, psychological or moral injury, the need to regain cultural, religious and social practices, to have greater agency over their surroundings,  to feel and be secure, and to restore some economic, material and social empowerment. The surrounding setting contributes to the health and sense of well being. During the studio, each project is based upon an independently selected and researched forcibly displaced community. Correspondingly, each design proposal and site plan is developed to contribute to healing for the specific forcible displaced community through their responsible stewardship of the built and natural environment.

The studio program raises new challenges regarding the role of an architect as partner and facilitator in collaboration with the forcibly displaced community they serve. The necessity of partnering with them is a best practice approach based upon the importance of their agency in such a design program.

Each student independently researched and developed a project narrative based upon their acquired knowledge and in some cases direct identification with a particular demographic group of forcibly displaced people. To preserve their agency and future modification of their household residential units, the design approach and plan optimizes a flexible, adaptable response to site conditions, and is informed by residents’ skills, cultural and religious practices, diets, and narrative.

In addition, we have artificially constrained the number of units to focus on more detailed design topics. A typical system of rapid deployment need to be more scalable than what is explored in this studio. Speed and unpredictably would also factor more significantly into how to approach problems of rapid deployment. In our exploration of options we have explored lighter weight structures that may have a smaller ecological footprint with the intention that they could be deployed more rapidly. Yet, we do this with the caveat that in a less than ideal world material supplies and the stability of the context could prove to be more volatile and limiting of the choices than we’ve assumed are available.

The program has focused narrowly on 16 family units for 80 occupants as a whole: a particular number units and size population group identified as a “Community” by the UNHCR that share common facilities, resources and open space.  Some projects will have explored the option to increase their focus to 2 such “Communities”. The emphasis has been to limit the scope of study to:

Consider the final review as an opportunity to learn from the issues and potentials that visiting critics, peers and others will see and that may expand your own view, rather than it be limited to an evaluation of your merits, and enjoy the exchange of ideas. As time allows, reflect on caveats and implications for your own design process. To bring closure to the studio exercise, during the exit interview, it would help to gain your perspective on implications, if any, for serving a significant larger displaced community.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Develop a family unit collapsible fabric architecture structure as a single unit or as an aggregate of sub-units.
2. Develop the physical connection to the ground or foundation system.
3. Deploy the structure on one of the two sites studied on the field trip: Sunset Bay State Park or Shore Acres State Park.
4. Development of the site plan with assets serving to create a healing landscape.
5. Depict in plan the deployment of a UNHCR size “Community” 16 household-unit shelters as well as additional structures (e.g., dining, infirmary, etc.) appropriate to the type community or type communities that you establish in your program narrative. Optionally, develop a proposal for two “Communities”
6. Develop 3D views (axonometric or perspective renderings) of varying clusters of family units and their spatial, social and physical connections during the day and at night.
7. Based upon your own review of the literature in the bibliography or from other sources continue to review and edit your narrative of a particular group of forcibly displaced people that would form the community as your design advances and it’s particular response raises new perspectives on the community it addresses..
8. Establish roughly five discussion points and one key proposition that you are testing in your design, and that may help to shape the discussion for the final review.
9. The choice of materials, including hardware, fabric and rigid structural elements, should be identified.  Take into account, cost, weight, portability and collapsibility.
10. The armature itself should collapse to the degree possible, and the means of setup and delivery illustrated.

Constraints:

• • At least two entrances/exits for each family unit.
  • Operable openings for fresh air, natural light and views.
  • 4 + places for sleeping.
  • 4 + writing surfaces and/or one common surface for dining.
  • Daylighting.
  • Minimal artificial lighting.
  • Simplified building transformation / assembly process.
  • Passive solar design principles.
  • Consideration of wind, rain and snow.
  • Consideration of environmental impact on habitats and marine conditions.

Include In Schematic Form 

• • Washing or WC facilities.
  • Kitchen.

See WASH guidelines created by the Container Based Sanitation Alliance (Kory Russel, et. al.).

Media:

Investigate the structure concurrently in physical model form and through drawing and computer modeling. The joints in the structure may still be developed abstractly with off-the-shelf hardware (e.g., Michael’s, Lowes, etc.) and/or 3D printed components. More specifically, consider fabric connection devices that help with retraction and unfurling of the structure. Consider the degrees of freedom in the movement of the joints.To the degree your process allows, you physical model should have a closer likeness to the actually joint itself than in previous exercises.

Optionally establish interchangeable parts that can be assembled and disassembled for more than one purpose.

Note that computer renderings or drawings can be used to supplant the physical modeling of joints, especially if you are short of time, and provide greater detail about connections.

For this exercise, use a smaller scale representation and layout for the final plot as a second mockup on 6.1.23 for the final review itself. We will discuss the options in studio today. For the final review, plot size will be __________ (to be discussed). Up to the equivalent of at least two plots is recommended. More is acceptable. However, the full width of the plots should not exceed 7′ unless our review space permits it.

For the final review, compile and place a PDF file of your final presentation under your name “LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME_SKETCH8.PDF” in the courses fileserver for the class and under the folder for your computer ID and  subfolder “SUBMIT/LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME/SKETCH8. Add photos of the accumulated physical models to the folder.

For final review bring whatever physical models to the pinup that you think are needed to have a meaningful discussion and as many of your study models dating back to the beginning for the term as possible. The date of the final review is has been determined by the department as will be more officially announced.

• Media Requirements:
  • An operable and detailed joint minimally at ½” scale (i.e., ½” = 1 foot).
  • At least one modified and physical prototype of the shelter at discretionary model scale, optionally with the integration of CNC fabricated components or off the shelf hardware store components. Re-use or modification of an existing prototype is OK although may be less optimal for design exploration.
  • Computer based detailed axonometric or perspective renderings of exterior and of the interior  of a single unit, showing light, shadow, interior elements and people during both daytime and nighttime conditions.
  • Two sections, one elevation, and plan, of the family structure at 1/4” or 1/8” scale.
  • Axonometric or perspective rendering of 3 to 4 units having a “communicating” or physically adjacent relationship to each other, ideally in both daytime and nighttime conditions.
  • Overview perspective rendering of the full scope of your scheme in both daytime and nighttime conditions.
  • Site plan depicting one or two “Communities” of 16 household residential units each, additional built structures, outdoor amenities, pathways, significant features and spaces. Or
  • One wall type section showing material connections to the ground and also to the roof structure at 1/4″ to 1/2″ scale.
  • Two larger area site sections showing the full scope of your park site including the waters edge and adjacent areas of land or forrest. The representation of family units may be abstract. The sections may be drawn at discretionary scale; however, it is recommended you work with as large a scale as practical.
  • Show variable site conditions in renderings (e.g., wind, sunshine, rain, runoff etc).
  • Look at the options of passive solar orientation and potential for insulation into the fabric structure at whatever level of detail seems appropriate to your level of understanding and investigation.

• Extracurricular:
  • Create a thumbnail scale image series to depict an assembly of your structure.
  • Create a thumbnail scale image series to depict a  transformation of your structure from an initial temporary deployment in the first 24 hours to a semi-permanent condition when more resources arrive.
  • Create a thumbnail scale image series to depict the initial delivery of the all the structures and setup.
  • Create a thumbnail scale image series of how a structure or its parts are packed for shipping.

• Scenarios:
  • Eating/sleeping/meeting.
  • Warm day ventilation/cold day or night insulation.
  • Daytime/nighttime conditions.
  • Light power supply for reading/laptop recharging/nighttime activity.

NOTES/MISCELLANY OF ADDITIONAL PRESENTATION OPTIONS AT YOUR DISCRETION

1. Help each other with respect to sewing, 3D modeling, and, if it is available, 3D printing.
2. Incorporate precedents and earlier investigations into your study.
3. Incorporate on site sketches, field notes and photos into your study that capture key site features and conditions.

EXTRACURRICULAR DESIGN OPTIONS

1. 1. Develop a method of full retraction into a box that can be transported as flattened cargo.
   2. Develop an option to incorporate or perhaps add thermal mass weeks or months after the initial setup of the shelters, such as with small concrete pavers for flooring or other options.