This tent could save millions of lives
06/09/2016.
by BillionBricks
metalocus, ELENA GALLEGO DE VELASCO
metalocus, ELENA GALLEGO DE VELASCO
Nowadays there are more than 33 million homeless people living in areas with harsh winters in the world, and they have no protection against the cold threatening. In 2013, nearly 9,000 families had been rendered homeless in the city of Muzaffarnagar, northern India, from communal riots. More than 50 children died in the community when the night temperatures fell to near freezing.
winterHYDE by BillionBricks. Image courtesy of BillionBricks.
winterHYDE by BillionBricks. Image courtesy of BillionBricks.
winterHYDE by BillionBricks. Image courtesy of BillionBricks.
winterHYDE by BillionBricks. Image courtesy of BillionBricks.
winterHYDE by BillionBricks. Image courtesy of BillionBricks.
winterHYDE by BillionBricks. Image courtesy of BillionBricks.
winterHYDE by BillionBricks. Image courtesy of BillionBricks.
Delhi, India, January 2016. winterHYDE by BillionBricks. Image courtesy of BillionBricks.
Delhi, India, January 2016. winterHYDE by BillionBricks. Image courtesy of BillionBricks.
Delhi, India, January 2016. winterHYDE by BillionBricks. Image courtesy of BillionBricks.
Delhi, India, January 2016. winterHYDE by BillionBricks. Image courtesy of BillionBricks.
winterHYDE by BillionBricks. Image courtesy of BillionBricks.
winterHYDE by BillionBricks. Image courtesy of BillionBricks.
Ideation process. winterHYDE by BillionBricks. Image courtesy of BillionBricks.
Ideation process. winterHYDE by BillionBricks. Image courtesy of BillionBricks.
After the incident, Prasoon Kumar, who had worked as an architect and urban planner for over ten years, he decided to found billionBricks, a non-profit organization based in Singapore. So they designed an emergency kit that would protect homeless families of the harsh conditions they support while living in the street in winter: winterHYDE.
This concept makes them winner the A' Design Awards & Competition in the Social Design category.
The innovative use of a triple-layered flysheet makes the winterHYDE very suitable for extreme weather conditions. The reflective layer traps the family's body heat in winter, and reflects solar heat in summer.
In addition, it can be used plumbing pipes or PVC pipes to form the structure, materials which are easily available on the market. The connections between the different bars are by custom designed 3D printed joints.
The cheapest source of heat.
The simple and low-tech design enables self-deployment. Its colorful and customizable aesthetics distinguishes each shelter. Its functionality ensures flexible use and reuse as emergency shelter, a temporary home, or even a comfortable camping tent.
winterHYDE is adaptable to different whether conditions year around. The innovative use of Mylar (reflective layer of polystyrene terephthalate) makes the winterHYDE tent easily adaptable to different climates.
During cold winters, the reflective layer traps a family's body heat to keem them warm. Removing the door panels allows for a breeze, while still inside is protected from the rain.
On a sunny day, the skin can be easily reversed - in less than 5 minutes - to reflect solar heat radiation.
When it gets really hot, the skin can bee peeled open. All you need are 4 poles to span the roof, like a canopy.
It provides privacy for women.
The triple layer skin block the light and therefore it doesn't cast embarrassing shadows. The fully enclosed winterHYDE provides privacy and a safe haven for women, their children and families.
Adaptation to urban use.
The sturdy design allows winterHYDE to be deployed in tough conditions. It added weight to the frame to eliminate the need for additional anchorage. Reflective details and bright colors increase urban visibility and safety at night.
The winterHYPE prototypes have been being tested in New Delhi, India, during the last 6 months. These first units are priced at $ 199 on the web, but the team hopes to reduce the cost by half, and implement other aspects such as size and interior lighting with solar energy.
Once completed pilot tests and the design is refined, is expected to reach winterHYDE such diverse areas as the US or the Himalayas, can save the lives of thousands of homeless and refugees.
This concept makes them winner the A' Design Awards & Competition in the Social Design category.
The innovative use of a triple-layered flysheet makes the winterHYDE very suitable for extreme weather conditions. The reflective layer traps the family's body heat in winter, and reflects solar heat in summer.
In addition, it can be used plumbing pipes or PVC pipes to form the structure, materials which are easily available on the market. The connections between the different bars are by custom designed 3D printed joints.
The cheapest source of heat.
The simple and low-tech design enables self-deployment. Its colorful and customizable aesthetics distinguishes each shelter. Its functionality ensures flexible use and reuse as emergency shelter, a temporary home, or even a comfortable camping tent.
winterHYDE is adaptable to different whether conditions year around. The innovative use of Mylar (reflective layer of polystyrene terephthalate) makes the winterHYDE tent easily adaptable to different climates.
During cold winters, the reflective layer traps a family's body heat to keem them warm. Removing the door panels allows for a breeze, while still inside is protected from the rain.
On a sunny day, the skin can be easily reversed - in less than 5 minutes - to reflect solar heat radiation.
When it gets really hot, the skin can bee peeled open. All you need are 4 poles to span the roof, like a canopy.
It provides privacy for women.
The triple layer skin block the light and therefore it doesn't cast embarrassing shadows. The fully enclosed winterHYDE provides privacy and a safe haven for women, their children and families.
Adaptation to urban use.
The sturdy design allows winterHYDE to be deployed in tough conditions. It added weight to the frame to eliminate the need for additional anchorage. Reflective details and bright colors increase urban visibility and safety at night.
The winterHYPE prototypes have been being tested in New Delhi, India, during the last 6 months. These first units are priced at $ 199 on the web, but the team hopes to reduce the cost by half, and implement other aspects such as size and interior lighting with solar energy.
Once completed pilot tests and the design is refined, is expected to reach winterHYDE such diverse areas as the US or the Himalayas, can save the lives of thousands of homeless and refugees.
151207 winterHYDE setup from billionBricks on Vimeo.
More information
. billionBricks
billionBricks is a Singapore based non-profit design and innovation studio providing shelter and infrastructure solutions for the homeless and vulnerable. It was started by Prasoon Kumar, who had been an architect for 13 years before quitting his job to helm the organisation full-time as CEO. He noticed the dismal quality of housing designed for the poor in developing countries in the region. There was a lack of competition for such projects, therefore, there was no demand for accountability and quality. Noone, not even the homeless, would want to live in them. They would rather live in the streets or the slums. This drove Prasoon to set up billionBricks.
Anurag Strivastava, CEO of architecture firm Space Matrix, and Snehal Mantri, a property developer in India, later joined Prasoon as the organisation's founding trustees. Anurag, who comes from a humble background understands how the safety of a roof provides a person with the confidence to dream, as well as access to opportunities for economic improvements. The trio based billionBricks in Singapore because of its status as a design and innovation hub, and proximity to funders. The location was also ideal to manage its regional projects that are today in India, Cambodia, India, Malaysia and Nepal.
Their winterHYDE has been awarded the Iron A' Design Award in the category of Social Design in 2016 by the grand jury panel of the A’ Design Award & Competition which consists of internationally influential press members, established designers, leading academics and prominent entrepreneurs.
Anurag Strivastava, CEO of architecture firm Space Matrix, and Snehal Mantri, a property developer in India, later joined Prasoon as the organisation's founding trustees. Anurag, who comes from a humble background understands how the safety of a roof provides a person with the confidence to dream, as well as access to opportunities for economic improvements. The trio based billionBricks in Singapore because of its status as a design and innovation hub, and proximity to funders. The location was also ideal to manage its regional projects that are today in India, Cambodia, India, Malaysia and Nepal.
Their winterHYDE has been awarded the Iron A' Design Award in the category of Social Design in 2016 by the grand jury panel of the A’ Design Award & Competition which consists of internationally influential press members, established designers, leading academics and prominent entrepreneurs.
