Homeless Chateau: A Little Privacy
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto 
on 01.15.09
all images from James Westwater
In New York City a lot of artists live in warehouses, almost in boxes; James Westwater tries to make it greener and more comfortable with his Homeless Chateau. It is designed to be used inside, but provides some privacy and security. He says that it has "cooking and toilet facilities" but both are pretty sketchy in a small unventilated space.
He writes:
Homeless Chateau, 2008, is a prefab one person living module, measuring approximately 4 x 8 x 4 feet and made from FSC certified and recycled materials. It is designed to be used inside another building, such as a warehouse, and is fully self-contained, including a bed and cooking and toilet facilities. There are hooks for clothing and towels, and a built-in shelf unit, made from a pallet, for storage of food, books and other items. A rubber flap over the entrance provides privacy, and one end of the structure is made from translucent polyurethane to let in natural light.
Homeless Chateau is fabricated from standard 4 x 8 and 4 x 4-foot sheets of plywood, OSB and construction signs, and can be knocked down, transported flat, and erected quickly and easily with just a screwdriver. Once assembled, the structure can be moved around the host space on its casters and then set in place with a temporary foundation--two bricks under the front. Homeless Chateaux can be easily reconfigured and combined to make dual-occupancy and eight-foot-tall structures.
James Westwater via Shedworking
James Westwater previously in TreeHugger:
James Westwater's Plywood Chateau
More Homeless Housing in TreeHugger:
Housing built by Japanese Homeless as Art Form
Folding Bamboo Houses by Ming Tang
"It's Not A Cardboard House, It's A Cardboard Home!"
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Is this a joke? No one should be expected to have to do their business and sleep so close together without some separation.
Also, having a stove in a wooden box seems extremely dangerous.
This reminds me a lot of by Japanese architect Kyohei Sakaguchi, which was also featured on treehugger (http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/03/post_25.php) .
In Japan it is very common for homeless individuals to make their own portable structures. I really like these sorts of designs but I think they're most useful when they're put to use. As a purely intellectural experiment they won't help anyone but if pre-fabricated structures were actually given out and coupled with some sort of program they might actually get something done. Some of the early projects by the Mad Housers shows how this can be done.
I have seen the House less (Not so much the homeless) Live in things a bit smaller than this , yes its feasible , but Where is the question. I know a lot of people just plain camp in tents , but there are a real lack of tent only camping facilities. ect ? At ;east within walking or cycling distance of house less hubs of activity.
That is a very livable, cozy home for a homeless person! I hope other homeless people do not try to take over this guys pad.
These would also be good in regular homes in winter. You can turn the heat way down, and sleep in the box, which will probably be plenty cozy with just your body heat. I personally love small spaces. When I worked for the Yankees, I used to sleep under my desk.
I've priced the composting toilets, and they're VERY expensive. Seems kind of oxymoronic when the object seems to be economical living quarters.
"It is designed to be used inside another building, such as a warehouse". In that case why not build lo cost to rent apartments or a dormitory in the other building? A shared dining room/kitchen to keep to keep cooking appliances out of dorm rooms. Not the handiest thing in the world, but better than the alternative, while keeping meals low cost and, healthier.
No offense intended, but I'm often wonder how many people will be able to survive truly tough times. When you don't have shelter, sleeping in close proximity to someone doing their business is a minor concern.
This sure beats a tent in inclement weather. We've gotten so used to our "wants" and we're forgotten or simple needs. This certainly is a good example of shelter. The person who lives here is probably much healther than the one who sits in from of the TV or computer like us. This person would go outside alot and rest without stress in a safe place.