the INCREMENTAL house

As Gazans are now slowly returning to their completely destroyed neighborhoods, conversations are inevitably ramping up about how to rebuild in the midst of such comprehensive destruction.  While the challenges and potential solutions are far beyond the scope for me to explore here, there will continue to be an immediate need to house people in safe, sanitary and dignified way.   One cautionary tale is the IKEA Better Shelter Design , which was released to great fanfare, including receiving many design awards after it was released in 2015.  Since then, there have been a number of issues related to the design and functionality of it and numerous complaints from the users themselves.  When I first saw this design, I appreciated the functionality and ability of it to be deployed quickly in many different locations and situations.  However, I was curious about the possibility of aggregation as well as customization and adaptability for local cultures since li...

One of the reasons that we have an acute homelessness crisis in the United States is that we have lost (and no longer provide) certain kinds of housing that used to shelter our poorest and most vulnerable populations.   Single Room Occupancy (SRO's) were once a critical source of housing for those living on the edge.  People could rent single rooms by the week, with shared baths and kitchens, all at a very affordable rate.  Often times, these "flophouses", as they came to be known, were the last line between someone having a roof over their head or living on the street (see Paul Groth's essential book, Living Downtown ).   Over the last 30-40 years, most of these have been destroyed through urban renewal and redevelopment, essentially eliminating one of the most vital sources of deeply affordable housing in cities. We have also moved away from housing designs that provided flexibility that also provided small and affordable housing for people on the margins...