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Many of the world’s displaced live in conditions striking for their wretchedness, but what is startling about Kilis is how little it resembles the refugee camp of our imagination. It is orderly, incongruously so. Residents scan a card with their fingerprints for entry [...]. Inside, it’s stark: 2,053 identical containers spread out in neat rows. No tents. None of the smells — rotting garbage, raw sewage — usually associated with human crush and lack of infrastructure. — nytimes.com
The tiny Austrian village of Krumbach has commissioned international architecture firms to build avant-garde bus stops.
The "Bus:Stop" project was conceived by Krumbach's cultural association, which hired prominent Austrian architect Dietmar Steiner to act as curator. Though he counts major architects from around the world among his contacts, he chose to maintain a boutique feel: "No starchitects, just small offices with sculptural interest."
— spiegel.de
Many people are still stuck in cyclone shelters because they have nowhere to sleep or get food and water, said T. Radha, the relief commissioner for Andhra Pradesh. He said plastic sheets are being distributed to the homeless, along with food and water. He said fishermen, who are unable to venture out to sea, are being given 10 kilograms of rice to help feed their families. — blogs.wsj.com
Tina Hovsepian of global architecture firm Callison was driven by the need to help homeless individuals in Los Angeles when she designed the first prototype for the "Cardborigami" shelter during her fourth year at USC's School of Architecture. Cardborigami, which has grown into a non-profit... View full entry
tentsile combines the comfort and versatility of a hammock with the usable space and security of a tent. The ultra portable structure uniquely employs tension forces to provide separation from wildlife, including insects, snakes and other predators but also from sand storms, earth tremors, cold or wet ground, debris or contamination. — Tentsile
When architects rethink the tent, you know it better be rad. In this case, Tentsile is the offspring of London-based Greendream Architecture. Quote from the firm's website: "With over 10 years of experience of projects in conventional as well as treehouse architecture, our team provides a... View full entry
Czech firm mjölk architekti has shared with us their fascinating proposal "POLAR HEN" which was - under the title "ICE PILLOWS" - just recently named one of the five winners in the internationally acclaimed Warming Huts v.2011, An Art +Architecture Competition on Ice (...with one of the other four winners being Frank Gehry!).
For only one winter, the five winning huts will be created and placed on the frozen Assiniboine River in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
— bustler.net
