CONCEPT AND STAGES
Conceptually the process of growth is analogous to the growth of a tree. In the beginning it is the seed which refers to the first stage which while the growth of the seed gathers up different aspects of living. The process of growth takes different forms of manipulation giving shelter and safety. Physically the skin and structure may change from plastic wrap to wood and cardboards. Taking different courses over time and through different manipulations the living box in its complete form will give form to settlements like the full form of a tree.
The living box is thought of initially able to provide instant space, to the extent that it could be deployed anywhere. In its packaging it is designed to be easily transported by unfolding it and in its complete structure it is thought being transported in a small carriage or cart or pedaled by a cycle once disassembled into its parts. It is able to be deployed through assembly and disassembly. The basic functions that we think could take place are cooking, sleeping, storage services such as sanitary and electricity are also considered.
The living box is conceived to grow and play a role together with the different stages of need and adaptability. The box is conceived to be developed with time, from their basic form of getting shelter with just a place to sleep and a roof on top of themselves to a box with proper place to sleep and space to eat and cook. The growth in terms of needs and number of occupants is taken into consideration. The idea of the box being a transition space to connect the users from very little elements to a box which will finally help them connect with the urban fabric.
We have tried to chart out the different needs most likely to occur in the different stages. Like, the internal needs, for the first stage which would be esteem needs, safety needs, physiological needs and belongingness. Similarly for the second stage, we found that people need more external needs which could be addressed through as aesthetic needs, and need to understand and know. Then the third stage would probably be the project ional needs or transcendence and self-actualization.
Depending on the site and stage different materials are planned to be employed. So to begin with, we intend to give four studs and plastic wraps to people to live in, or just have a shelter. This is also thought of for living under the bridge, where a platform to sleep is laid out and card board boxes to form the walls is covered and room to sleep is created. The focus is just to deploy the structure. Then they add on the skin which should together give them some sense of protection and shelter. The living box is also thought of, as the box begins to take more complete shape and form it incorporates more concrete needs. This stage considers enclosed space and shelter with basic structure and plastic wrap. In this stage it is also thought that the box will be delivered through government or non government organizations, with the structure and skin to the needy.
We picture the people and themselves growing as they gather more material and are able to live and differentiate what they want and what they don’t want. The second stage is about upgrading the box. It tries to incorporate new needs or more external needs keeping in mind the aesthetic needs. Better materials are attempted to be employed, that would include wood, plastic, cardboard, corrugated metal sheets and glasses. The occupants is also expected to increase and will be able to modify the box as the users needs. The plastic wraps from the first stage will be replaced by wooden panels while the structural element remains the same. The probable sites where it may be deployed will be the same. As the living conditions keep getting better the aspects of the living box get strengthened and become more complete. The construction of the box at this stage is also tried to be simplified as the wooden panels would fit in together easily with a male and female connection. It is tried to think of the construction to use less tools keeping in mind the people who will deploy the box and that it should be easily build able.
At the second stage the issues would be more of defining their interior space, where they able to separate storage sleeping and cooking. At this point also probably the problem of sanitation and electricity would not have been solved. They would probably use external means of washing clothes and dishes still. This would be a stage where they could use the plastic wrap through the interiors to protect themselves through harsh weather. They would probably be using wood to burn inside with fewer openings except for a door and a window. The sleeping eating cooking spaces are just spaces that could be played around with or modified. They would probably be using a stove to cook.
It is at this stage where the living box takes its complete shape. At this stage there are proper positioning of windows and openings. The internal layout is much more defined. The sleeping space is built in and cooking and eating spaces are defined. Storage spaces are well defined, allowing organization of space within the box. The users start using this as a home, ready to connect with more of these units to form a settlement. The users connect to electricity and sanitation. They would probably be washing and cleaning inside the box and watching T.V. The materials used for the box will still be wooden panels as walls and corrugated sheets as roofing material. They would start to make a 3-d matrix and create spaces in between them that could be used in different ways. This could also begin the making of a settlement between confined houses. These houses also take a designed character and are stronger in aesthetic emphasizing on a more urban look.
CONSTRUCTION AND DETAILS
The construction and details are designed to be able to be installed quickly and in a simple manner. We have given thought to using fewer tools during its assembly and its disassembly. The boxes have taken a fixed size shape and proportion which allows for its modular growth. The living box is taken as 7’x7’ in its germ stage where the structural vertical and horizontal studs are 3”x3” and the wall panels are 3.5’x 7’. The panels are added from the outside making the building process from inside out. The wall panels fit into each other through a tongue and groove joint which allows easy assembly and disassembly, in addition to that it also give a clean and better aesthetic look to the box. The sizes of the panels are taken in the logic that it is the minimum required space within for a person to live. It is taken also because it can have a consistent proportion and could be used efficiently in its modularity. Modularity is tried to be achieved through its proportioning system and sizes of panels which could be combined in different ways to achieve and suit different functions as well as extensions.
The box in all has a size of 7’x7’x7’ which is about 1.5’ below the ground or foundation and 1’ exposed above the ground. This box can be joined together in different ways using the 3.5’x7’ proportion system to create smaller to larger spaces as well as to connect more than one unit. This modularity could be well deployed in the sites where there is a building under construction or at the roof top of the unfinished house. This actually creates a different kind of an intended aesthetics.
MATERIALS
The materials thought to be deployed are wooden structural studs, wooden panels, corrugated roofing sheets, woven bamboo flat panels; plastic wraps and left over materials like card board and tires.
