matthew@mattmcarr.com // (360) 606 5484
Designed in response to the rapidally growing housing crisis in Portland, Oregon resulting in a severe lack of resources for houseless individuals, this project proposes temporarily housing homeless people on pre-existing, public infrastructure through the use of short term micro-shelters.
This body of work and research was displayed at Portland City Hall during a city design exhibition, and was a part of the traveling Houseless exhibit featured at the Anchorage Museum in Alaska.
Center for Public Interest Design ∙ Anchorage Museum
Map of Portland, Oregon Metro Area MAX Transit System
Transit Micro-Shelter Setup
1) User unlocks the micro-shelter using an anonymous and free metrocard. Users will only be able to unlock the same micro-shelter once per week.
2) User lifts the folded shelter cover and locks the middle hinge into place, securing the roof
3) User pulls out the folded cot, pulls down both legs, and locks the leg henges into place, securing the bed
Transit Micro-Shelter Setup Continued
4) User pulls down protective fabrics and secures them to the bottom of the cot legs. The inner layer is netting while the outer layer is ‘cut-vec’ fabric
4) User pulls down protective fabrics and secures them to the bottom of the cot legs. The inner layer is netting while the outer layer is ‘cut-vec’ fabric
5) User places belongings underneath the cot, which is raised 18” above the ground
6) At the back of the micro-shelter, users have access to a push-on light, plug-ins and a heating unit, powered by the electrical core in transit stop columns.
Day and night functionalty of a Portland Lightrail Station with implemented micro-shelters:
Micro-shelters are available between 10pm and 6am, before being locked from 7am to 9pm, thus restoring stations back into transportation hubs
