Projects

One of the projects of the studio this semester was the designing and building of one-person homeless shelters from recycled materials found in and around MIT and Cambridge. Working in teams of four or five, the students had five days to design and build their shelters, each team working with a budget of $50. An important aspect of the project was to orient students to the need for social architecture -- architecture that is meant to redress social problems -- and to make them aware of how much useful material we throw away. Ultimately, the shelters were to aspire to the quality of a quilt -- something artful and useful made from recycled materials. Shelters had to be unobtrusive and portable; fit into a shopping cart or roll on wheels; keep out the elements; and provide some warmth in winter and ventilation in the summer. Students built the shelters with the help of Technical Instructor Chris Dewart. All images are courtesy of Donna Coveney, and used with permission.

Homeless Shelter Project

Finishing the shelter. Showing the shelter at work. Folding the shelter. One of the project teams. Finishing touches to the shelter. Installing the shelter. Transporting shelters in the rain. The shelter as a canoe.

The other projects for the semester included designing a performance space in a quarry, an individual place, and the final project, a coming together place. Those projects are shown here from a number of students. All work is courtesy of the students named and used with permission.

W. Victoria Lee

Working with found objects, junk models began to form the space. A study model showing how spaces interrelate. The program, laid out in a series of diagrams. A large scale study model. A second study model. A detail model, showing how the structure and tectonics of the s The final model, showing the project in its site. A plan of the final project.

Caitlin Mueller

The final review, a display of all the work from the semester. Plans and digital renderings of the individual space project. Study models for the final project. A detail model of the final project. The final model. A long view of the final model, from the pedestrian's perspectiv Floor plans of the final project. Digital renderings of the final project.

Diana Nee

The quarry project model. A model made from found objects. A first study model, showing the genesis of the curved shape. A more refined study model. A third study model, showing the advancement of the curves. The final model. The second floor plan. A section through the space.

Maggie Nelson

The quarry project: An intimate performance space. The layout of the final review. Long view of a design model. The final model, with it's relation to the surroundings. Digital renderings of the quarry and individual projects. Plans of the final project. Digital renderings and wireframe models of the final project. Digital renderings of the final project.

Harini Rajaraman

The quarry project model. Digital renderings of all three projects. A study model of the final project. A second study model. The final model, showing the relation of the project to the site Another view of the final model. A detailed structural model of the final project. The second floor plan.