‘float’ emergency shelter by andrés & josé responds to flood affected areas of mexico

design studio andrés & josé introduces ‘float’, an emergency shelter proposal created to provide a solution to the severe flooding in yucatan, mexico. during the last rainy seasons of the area, the intense floods have contributed to people living in vulnerable housing settlements and situations of poverty. the ‘float’ mockup comprised of 12 mobile domestic objects embedded in the landscape, aims to offer efficient support in times of crisis, paving the way towards a better quality of life for the local community. 

all images courtesy of andrés sáenz, josé álvarez 

since the ‘float’ shelter by andrés & josé is supposed to be used in unfavorable conditions, the design is based on a prefabricated system, avoiding on-site work within the emergency areas. the main characteristic of this mobile shelter is adaptability, with the structure being able to adjust to a variety of locations. the cabin is activated in two different ways. firstly, when the water level rises, it has the ability to float and self-level. secondly, when the maximum water level is reached, then through a natural process of filtration and accumulation of water, the emergency shelter can self-locate at the natural ground level, and re-settle on the soil. 

apart from delivering a viable solution in scenarios of crisis, the project seeks to redefine the relationship between environment and society, generating new ideas about intervening through activation strategies. the ‘float’ shelter takes shape as a strategic device, whose main idea is to understand that design is a powerful tool to build habitats that generate a greater quality of life. however, at the same time, the structure must be analyzed as a reflection of the way an object fits into a certain space landscape, whose characteristics can change at any given moment. 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.