Esperanza Emergency Homeless Shelters
PAO has designed eight Plugin Houses for community services and residences for people experiencing homelessness at the Esperanza Community in Austin Texas.
Plugin House_Community Space Quonset
The Plugin Houses, the colorful structures in the images, were all built by people that are unhoused from Esperanza and Springdale Park Neighbors.
Plugin House_TOOF Studio
100sf Plugin Houses are designed as residences and 200sf versions are for shared facilities such as libraries, food services, and offices for case workers.
Plugin House_Community Space Quonset
Two large arched structures called Quonset Huts were also designed for use as community gathering spaces.
Plugin House_Construction Studio
The entire building process took one week with the small units taking as little as two hours to construct.
Plugin Houses for the Unhoused
PAO has designed eight Plugin Houses for services and residential use for people suffering from homelessness for The Other Ones Foundation (TOOF) Esperanza Community. All of the Plugins were built by unhoused individuals and residents of Esperanza with the construction of each Plugin taking as little as one hour.
PAO has designed eight Plugin Houses for community services and residences for people experiencing homelessness at the Esperanza Community in Austin Texas.
100sf Plugin Houses are designed as residences and 200sf versions are for shared facilities such as libraries, food services, and offices for case workers. In addition, two large arched structures called Quonset Huts were also designed for use as community gathering spaces.
Managed by The Other Ones Foundation (TOOF), a non-profit, ~150 people have transitioned into an engaged community through humanitarian aid, case management, and employment opportunities. The Plugin Houses are part of the first phase of an upgraded complex that will serve 200-300 community members on the seven acre site.
The Plugin Houses, the colorful structures in the images, were all built by people that are unhoused from Esperanza and Springdale Park Neighbors. The construction process therefore provided job training and employment for those that lack such opportunities. The entire building process took one week with the small units taking as little as two hours to construct.
Beijing-based People's Architecture Office was founded by He Zhe, James Shen and Zang Feng in 2010. With the belief that design is for the masses the studio focuses on social impact through design.
