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THE SHELTER PROJECT
One of my larger final year projects, developing a public homeless shelter was amoung my most challenging projects. This project required careful research and planning to be able to provide the appropriate facilities, while aslo trying to implement design choices that would help uplift those going through hard times. Through fieldwork and interviews I came to find that many people in need avoid homeless shelters due to the depressing and oppresive environment. Using this information I sought to focus on uplifting, bright and hopeful themes for my design choices. Open spaces, bright colours and recreational facilities were my priorities. It was also important that I maximised the use of space to provide as much respite to the residents as possible. There was a focus on family and communal spaces, roomy sleeping quarters, and a stimulating flow to the building. Many of those that I interviewed found that homeless shelters were often intimedating places to saty at. This was one of the main challenges that I focused my work on combating, to create a welcoming and inviting place for those in need to recover and collect themselves, to provide a place where they could find comfortable refuge.
