IK studio and CHRN produce APoC low-cost emergency shelter for the homeless

IK studio + CHRN produce APoC low-cost emergency shelter for the homeless
all images courtesy of IK studio

the canadian homelessness research network (CHRN) estimates that 30,000 citizens are homeless every night, and at least 200,000 experience the condition in any given year. this caused the toronto non-profit organization to take action, enlisting IK studio to produce a low-cost emergency shelter, one that would transcend social stigma or public blight and provide a place for recreation when constructed in parks and playgrounds.

interior view 

the resulting architectural prototype capsule, or ‘APoC’, is a temporary pavilion whose geometry was generated from a truncated sphere. the massing was then divided into double-curvature components that are sized for easy transport. tessellation was avoided, as stiffness would not be achieved without a secondary structural frame to support the planar panels. instead, each plate is engineered from laminated birchwood that must be warped by two people into a stable and strong double-layer shell. the outer surface overlaps with the system of the inner enclosure so that the shelter is a self-supporting monocoque.

exterior view in an urban setting 

detail of curving plywood

rendering in nature 

view looking up through the oculus at night

rendered section

the proposal in a city

(left) interior panels
(right) exterior panels

project info:

project name: architectural prototype capsule (APoC)
location: toronto, canada
client: canadian homelessness research network
design/build team: mariana ibanez, simon kim (principals), ben ruswick, ki-moon kim
CNC fabrication: R & R woodwork

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.