So far not garnering any local coverage (near as I can tell) the Washington Post does a fair job of writing up a new exhibit at the Cooper-Hewitt, as part of their Solos series. This installment is modular, highly portable housing unit by Sean Godsell entitled FutureShack. Based primarily on shipping containers (what is it with architects [though, really, you need to see this which looks like the Semoitext(e) series got VC money circa 1999] and shipping containters? They really aren’t scaled to human inhabitation. I know this because I tried to make something out of one too), it attempts to address mass production, portability, ease of assembly, etc. Won some awards too. The Post notes that not everyone sees it as the mysterious grail of housing for the impoverished (you know, it’s not the lack of $15,000 in savings that prevents those who make $2 a day from obtaining housing, it’s the lack of decent design options.). And the name should indicate that the author perhaps isn’t quite perfectly in tune with those who are similarly interested in this problem. Aside from his absurd claim that a portable generator for air conditioning will solve the problem of heat gain in building a house out of steel, I think it presumptive to criticize other aspects of its functionality until I see it, since it’s just across town. So see for yourself, and I’ll try to get back with an update (maybe I’ll wait until August to test the passive ventilation).
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FutureShack.
So far not garnering any local coverage (near as I can tell) the Washington Post does a fair job of writing up a new exhibit at the Cooper-Hewitt, as part of their Solos series. This installment is modular, highly portable housing unit by Sean Godsell entitled FutureShack. Based primarily on shipping containers (what is it with architects [though, really, you need to see this which looks like the Semoitext(e) series got VC money circa 1999] and shipping containters? They really aren’t scaled to human inhabitation. I know this because I tried to make something out of one too), it attempts to address mass production, portability, ease of assembly, etc. Won some awards too. The Post notes that not everyone sees it as the mysterious grail of housing for the impoverished (you know, it’s not the lack of $15,000 in savings that prevents those who make $2 a day from obtaining housing, it’s the lack of decent design options.). And the name should indicate that the author perhaps isn’t quite perfectly in tune with those who are similarly interested in this problem. Aside from his absurd claim that a portable generator for air conditioning will solve the problem of heat gain in building a house out of steel, I think it presumptive to criticize other aspects of its functionality until I see it, since it’s just across town. So see for yourself, and I’ll try to get back with an update (maybe I’ll wait until August to test the passive ventilation).