Bıoplastıc Honeycomb Shelters

Framlab Architecture Office came up with a project to meet the needs of the increasing homeless population in New York. The project “Homed” proposes covering the empty outer walls of the New York City apartment buildings with honeycomb-shaped capsule housing clusters. Homelessness in New York City has reached soaring levels. It is estimated that more than 61.000 people spend the night in the city’s homeless shelters and thousands in streets, metros and other public spaces.

Caused by the urban shortage and the increase in population and housing prices, homelessness is the focus of the “Homed” project. The project proposes vertically located, hexagonal housing modules to be hung on windowless facades of apartment buildings in the city. Access to the single residences that look like a combined hanging-neighborhood is provided by stairs placed in their frames. Modular housings can be easily and quickly installed or disassembled. Flexibility in installation allows the housings to be placed according to the form of the walls.

the housings to be placed according to the form of the walls.
The exterior of the housings includes an oxidized aluminum shell to prevent cold. The inside of the shell is coated with recycled polycarbonate sheets produced with 3D printing.

All these layers are fixed with aluminum frames. Smart glass windows are placed on the front of the modules, covering the entire front. The windows not only provide daylight to the housings but also work as panels that can be rented for advertising. The interiors are covered with plywood to create a cosy and warm environment. Interior furniture units use plant-based polymer bioplastics and are produced with 3D printing. These modular units can be arranged according to the needs and wishes of the residents.

Photos: framlab.com