"The idea for us has been to create that infrastructure around it, Not just given the houses, but created that environment around that gives them employment, gives them functionality, gives them purpose, gives them hope." — ABC7
A group of Cal Poly Pomona architecture students developed and built mobile housing that can move around as needed.
Dr. Behn Samareh who is leading the effort of the students says, "(it's) much easier to build a mobile structure, one that is not connected to the ground, much easier to build one of those in terms of code restrictions than it is attached component. A critical element is the use of land owned by the government. In this case, it's Bureau of Land Management land near the Salton Sea which was originally developed as a trailer park complete with infrastructure. But now, it sits vacant."
20 Comments
I'm really struggling here, what, if any is the new ground here being uncovered? I understand the need to have students consider the issues of the unhoused, but what is the ultimate goal here? So far as I can tell, given the expanse of the problem, why are professors continuing to pimp the idea that "architecture" is the solution, when it hasn't been one in the past 50 years? We don't have a problem of housing solutions, we have problems that housing can't solve. These students are being done a disservice, pretending that architecture is anything but the problem.
This problem has been solved. Give homeless people homes. What is missing is the will to do it. This project is total BS. Giving the homeless a porta potty. Dumb and stupid beyond belief.
Here is an idea. Let the instructor and these students live in this thing for a month and then see what they think about it.
There are many factors that lead to homelessness including addiction, mental illness, as well as other social factors. Without addressing those underlying issues, we are just creating a revolving door. To think that we can solve homelessness by merely giving people homes is extremely short sighted and the kind of thinking that has gotten us here in the first place; wasting over a billion dollars annually on the issue. If the root cause is not addressed, what is there to prevent a repeat? Throwing money at this problem will not solve it. These folks don't just need homes, they need a livelihood. They need a way to regain their dignity.
22 students (3 teams) spent a combined total of over 5000 hours developing these projects. It not only gave them an opportunity to develop a project to its extent, but also to work collectively on a project with real significance and implication. it was welcomed break from just talking about the problem, and appreciate by all. This is what they are trained for, problem solving. A perfect example seen here.
So much to unpack here. Perhaps, what they need, is for us to see their humanity, and treat them with dignity. They have not "lost" their dignity, it's not something architecture can return to them. Moreover, your second paragraph contradicts the first. We are architects, we are functionaries, tools for capital, not problem solvers. We, are often the problem, not the solution. Did you build these? No? Then you are talking about the problem, using pictures. Stop with the regurgitation of solutions to problems that are just throwing more money in the air.
I also want to note, I was unhoused as a teen, and I certainly felt shame in that, but never did I think I needed to regain my dignity.
The model of a polytechnic university is "learning by doing. Had it not been for the pandemic restriction we would have built one. Even though we never met in person, every component was fully designed and prototypes were made.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdOoMpdK9WE&t=24s
"There are many factors that lead to homelessness including addiction, mental illness" - Economics is the cause of homelessness. Anything else is just an excuse to prevent fixing it.
Nothing quite says diginity like a shower curtain for a wall. No one would want to live in this thing. I guess that is the point.
*dignity*
This may help increase your understanding of this project more than a 3 minute news clip.
These students are still idealistic and believe they can change their world. They are not quite as jaded or think of themselves as "tools" just yet.
Obviously there is no one solution to this issue. This is just one possible option.
https://youtu.be/826s4B_b3bk
Each design also comes with a booklet that describes the entire fabrication/assembly process like an "Ikea catalogue". These projects are ready for fabrication.
Not everyone experiences "homelessness" the same way. There is a difference between crashing on a friends couch and sleeping on cardboard under a bridge. So there is no single solution.
The idea here has been to create a community and infrastructure around the dwellings to create a community, to provide the necessary environmental and social support systems.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
Money is a single solution. Homelessness is about affordabaility. Making cheaper units does not solve the problem.
What's the difference, and who is the comment directed toward?
Have to say, as recent work from Cal Poly Pomona - College of Environmental Design students goes, I find Green Alley Housing (of the the Low-Rise Design Challenge) to be a much more compelling body of work.
In LA we need to fight for housing on all fronts, it's really dire. Where I work, 1 out of 5 students is homeless or borderline homeless (btw, that number was before Covid19.)
I think this configuration is one of the better ones in its category. Behn knows a lot about the subject and helped a lot of homeless youth over the years educating and training them for life-saving skills in his shop. He has the skills, credentials, and technological know-how to make these things happen. His biggest advantage is his relentless spirit to help a cause.
Also, his students know the homeless community 'very' well.
It keeps advancing.
https://thepolypost.com/news/2...
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