BBC - h2g2 - Personal Space

BBC - h2g2 - Personal Space

Above is a link to a BBC page which makes some interesting points on the issue of personal space.
This is an aspect of the design which I will need to investigate if a number of different people are to use and live within the shelter together.

From my initial shape generations mentioned below a number of problems were identified, the first was the problem of floor space, the second was complexity and the third was practicality. Some of the shapes that were produced using this method were unworkable as shelter but through this process of idea generation I was able to identify them and abandon them.
My main observation was that the simple shapes were the most affective, with this in mind I selected a number of shapes to take forward and develop. Through my development of the shapes I have ended up with a number of interesting concepts for my shelter as seen in this image.

I am now looking at basic geometric shapes shapes and examining how these shapes can become the basis for a shelter through extrusion, rotation and merging.
For example an extruded triangle becomes a tent, a rotated semi circle becomes an igloo where as a combination of the triangle and square extruded will become a stereotypical house shape.
This process should hopefully provide me with some interesting forms and more importantly some inspiration towards the final idea.

This is a storm shelter designed to sit underground and hold 10 people safely while hurricanes and tornados pass. This example shows just how much potential there is for a company like the Balmoral Group to use their techniques to manufacture emergency shelters.

A nice concept for an urban shelter that can be easily build and collapsed, making it easier to transport.

Baring in mind the need for survival surrounded by the use of a life raft, could the design of such a product influence the design for a land based shelter? And at which point in the design will the scale of need or necessity tip in order to provide maximum effectiveness at minimal cost?

Climate Change Protection Complex : TreeHugger

Climate Change Protection Complex : TreeHugger

This is an interesting example of a shelter which looks like it could be easily made using the same processes as the Balmoral Group. The shelter consists of five different sections all of which serve different functions, for example one is the main living shelter, one for food, one for water, one for Medicine, and the last one is the utility shelter.

Although looking at the structure for prison cells may seem a little unorthodox, a prison cell is comprised with some of the bare essentials of what a shelter or temporary housing may require. These are; a secure enclosed space, sleeping quarters, toilet facilities, a window and space for personalisation.

PACO Packs A Lot Into a Little : TreeHugger

PACO Packs A Lot Into a Little : TreeHugger

Another link to the same item as mentioned below but with some more info and spec.

Small House Design "Paco" From Japan : TreeHugger

Small House Design "Paco" From Japan : TreeHugger

I found this article on TreeHugger. It is a design for a small house which tries to maximise on a minimalistic space. This is similar to what I hope to achieve with my project, creating a suitable shelter which is small enough to be portable but large enough to live in whilst capitalising on what space there is within it.