LAVA: digital origami emergency shelter

the emergency shelter exhibition customs house, sydney, australia on now through september 3, 2011

‘digital origami emergency shelter‘ by LAVA, sydney, australia images courtesy of LAVA

sydney-based practice LAVA has created ‘digital origami emergency shelter’, a conceptual prototype for the emergency shelter exhibition on display now in sydney, australia through september 3, 2011. a solution for replacement housing during natural disasters, the exterior’s geometric appearance, derived from a water molecule, is intended to be stacked with other modules generating an interconnected village. currently a small scale representation of the framework, the full size structure is capable of comfortably housing two adults and one child for daily activities including eating, reading and sleeping.

this unit’s striated elevation is constructed with layered sheets of plywood cut with a CNC machine and spaced at even vertical intervals. contrasting the enclosure’s planar surfaces, the undulating interior reveals ledges to be used as a chair or bed when needed. during a disaster situation, the pieces may be flat-packed and shipped or dropped to individuals via helicopter to be assembled on-site. readily available materials including wood, cardboard, and newspaper may be substituted and used with the same stacking method for speedy installation. at night, battery or solar operated LED lights brighten the volume while transforming the object into an illuminated lantern, proving a sign of hope to victims.

exterior view

openings in the enclosure serve as windows

‘the project plays with ideas of prefabrication and personalised inhabitation, as well as stacking of multiple units, while giving an opportunity for individual expression.’ – chris bosse, founder and director of LAVA

windows