About the Designer: I am a 4th year student in WSU's Voiland college of Architecture and have plans to get my Bachelors in Architecture with a possible minor in Construction Management. After I graduate in May of 2018 I would like to intern for a firm in Spokane with the hopes of eventually becoming licensed, starting my own firm. Outside of school you can find me working at the Pizza Hut in Pullman, out wandering in the woods, or probably getting a workout in at the gym or on the tennis courts. I really enjoy staying active and exploring new places.
The Transitions
My design for the homeless shelter focuses primarily on making the transition from the streets to a stable home just that much easier. The shelter itself is modular, breaking apart piece by piece or into a bit larger pieces as well making the portability of this shelter very accommodating for both far away and near by places. Inside you can find a nice place to lay down or simply sit and enjoy the warmth that its Plastic walls provide. There are also a few forms of entertainment that you can choose from such as a radio to listen to some music or catch up on the news there can also be some art and drawing materials provided to canvas the walls inside however you'd like. With the way each module is designed the facade provides a very sturdy and strong structure and with the way each cut out or window per say is laid, the person inside can look out, but there is no looking in for the people outside, this is for security reasons. The windows being made from plexi glass makes for a secure way of letting light through the structure and the many forms that the shelter makes can provide ventilation when opened up. This structure is a cozy and stable place for homeless people to stay temporarily and help them get back up on their feet but it can also be functional for the city. Along with ventilation reasons, the structure takes many different forms to also suit some of the needs of the public. Whether that be a place to sit and rest or a shelf to set their coffee on this shelter is both functional and a site to see. This is only meant to be temporary but with homelessness being a very big problem in today's world it could take a while so making this structure enjoyable for the public was huge. Through extensive material research, design exploration and interviews with the homeless themselves I think that this shelter could provide exactly what the homeless need to make that transition easier.