Sponsors: Design Boom
Dru McKeown Evan Zane Chris Maurer Suzi Quilligan
A sense of identity can typically be found in one’s own possessions. As we strive to define our space and who we are we utilize physical attributes and belongings to advertise ourselves without communicating verbally. Whether we use our clothing, hairstyles, homes or automobiles, who we want to be perceived as is usually rather obvious with the consumer choices that we make. What happens though, when the place we use to store our belongings, the thing we use to contain our identity advertisements is removed from the equation? Do those without the means lose their voice? Can you maintain an identity without the physical belongings to tie materialistically to something greater then yourself?
The issue of homelessness is one that transcends the simple bounds of lacking permanent and safe housing. Transient lifestyles based upon a nomadic typology harkens to greater social problems. There can be a severe lack of the sense of being able to belong to the mainstream society that is continuously bombarding our ideals of self and worth. These can be the direct result of many catalysts ranging from economic hardships to mental illness, both of which are difficult enough to solve without the added burden of providing a safe haven which one can feel a greater sense of community in.
Halfway houses and public shelters are one way that communities attempt to deal with the homeless population. While generally safer then living on the streets many problems arise in terms of storage of one’s remaining possessions (and by that, their identity) and the sense of personal ownership that many find important as a sense of accomplishment and self.
There is a standard, especially in the States, of the use of grocery shopping carts for transporting personal belongings as well as materials collected during the day that can be sold to generate an income. While generally a safe and convenient practice, new legislation is making it more and more difficult for this practice to be implemented. In many urban areas local police have the authority to reclaim shopping carts and confiscate or dump out any belongings within them. Some communities have started programs whereas donated carts are marked or tagged with a license plate so as to inform authorities that they are not stolen goods and should not be removed from their owner’s possession. This has been met with some resistance and confusion from local law enforcement and which, while diminishing the problem, does not entirely solve it.
Our proposal for the “Shelter in a Cart” competition was therefore attained with practical needs and simplicity in mind. Our cart can be used in two forms for hauling, moving belongings and storage. The first configuration is as a simple two wheeled hand truck which allows easy and quick mobility while still providing storage space and the ability to move smaller objects. The second form is as a 4 wheeled dolly truck which can provide more storage in terms of quantity and mass. Both versions provide storage of a permanent nature, that is, in between the two transportable configurations and the third which provide some protection from the elements, can be contained and protected from the elements.
The frame, constructed of painted steel, remains rigid and provides the strength needed for moving objects and supporting a human body. Panels, made out of layers of resin impregnated cardboard offer protection and more rigidity while remaining lightweight and cost inefficient to destroy or attempt to recycle. This will hopefully alleviate any problems regarding theft or the sacrifice of the shelter in order to generate an income. The protective shell of the shelter is a simple canvas on wire system that is suspended along an extendable frame and can be easily repaired and replaced while still offering shelter from wind and rain. The interior volume of the shelter is meant to be kept to a minimum so that body heat is not lost warming up a large space, however, for warmer periods the canvas sides can be folded up for ventilation.
The cart will be mounted to 4 solid rubber wheels which can not be punctured and will therefore not contribute to the cart being abandoned due to it becoming immobile nor will the wheels need to be constantly monitored for proper tire pressure. While two smaller 6” diameter wheels will make up the steerable casters in dolly truck form the main wheels are larger 8” diameter wheels for ease in movement over curbs and up steps.
A total of two steps are needed to transform the hand truck into a dolly truck. Four movements are then needed to transform the hand truck into the shelter. This provides a simple and eloquent way to not only protect and move one’s belongings around but also allows for a temporary shelter to be provided anyplace when it is needed.