Relocatable Housing For the Homeless
2021 Bachelors Studio 2B
Let Every Voice Be Heard
Brief:
The brief is to design transportable housing options for individual homeless people, catering for 25-50 people, as well as considering the site’s use as a public thoroughfare for bikes and pedestrians. The brief also includes the provision of communal spaces (open and/or enclosed) and carparking spaces for those people with cars (which may have been their only shelter previously). You will need to consider the relationship between public and private spaces, making sure those staying in the housing feel safe.
The project is on a site (Atchison St Carpark) which is currently used as a car parking space, but will be redeveloped in the future as a ‘green link’ for pedestrians and cyclists between Wollongong Railway Station and McCabe Park. It is close to public transport, shops, and employment opportunities, as well as a number of homelessness services, making it a good location for temporary housing.
Homelessness is an increasingly prevalent issue in Wollongong, particularly during the COVID19 pandemic. Domestic violence is a key contributor to homelessness in women and the elderly. Elder abuse, a form of domestic violence is the number one cause of elderly homelessness in Australia. Often domestic violence victims are left feeling helpless and without financial or legal support, and while there are organisations dedicated to assisting these victims, there is often a lack in infrastructure to house these groups. ‘Fundamentals’ aims to create an open, safe, free-flowing environment for homeless women and elderly fleeing domestic violence in an attempt to provide temporary accommodation for these vulnerable groups. Fundamentals attempts to provide the facilities necessary for homeless women, their children and the homeless elderly population to get back on their feet, providing a safe home, centralized location and a community centre with educational, correctional and support group facilities. The site offers public, communal, semi private and private spaces in an attempt to engage the homeless residential occupants with the Wollongong community.
Post Residential Site Use
