Collaboration with a company
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Writing a master thesis in collaboration with a company creates a realistic and pragmatic atmosphere of design development. Having Imnus™ assisting us in carrying out the design prototypes and giving us supervision was very helpful; the collaboration was close with reciprocal feedback. However, getting constant reminders of financial and organizational restraints was sometimes repressive for elaboration in the design process. Many of our design solutions were neglected after a discussion with Imnus™, realizing it was too complex for the user to assemble or too expensive to fabricate. In the end the process became a long chain of choices against a simplified design. From an objective perspective the final outcome could be perceived as a shelter that more resembles a shoebox than a home if one is unfamiliar with the subject matter. There was however an extensive development of the concept where we found some important design principles that should
be kept: the simplicity in assembly, the adaptability to cultural context through varying appearance and level of privacy, modularity to adapt to family size and climate, and the indoor comfort of added flooring (preferably locally built). Thus the result may seem simple, yet there was a complex process behind it with many carefully weighted solutions.
The team of Imnus™ Emergency Housing.
Presentation at the mid-term seminar.
The implementation of emergency shelter aid is a conservative industry unwilling for large changes. The largest aid organizations demand documented assurance that the shelters have been tested to fulfil the requirements. Imnus™ is in the start-up phase as company and still have some time of improvement and testing before they have a shelter ready for pilot project endorsed by an aid organization partner. From Imnus™ side, employing two architectural students to develop the shelter design, they agree that the aim of the thesis has been complied with satisfying result.