The paraSITE shelter of Michael M. on 26th Street and 9th Avenue in
New York.
Urban winters are the toughest for the homeless and
sometimes below zero temperatures can cause death to those sleeping in
the streets. Artist Michael Rakowitz, while still a student at MIT,
started designing a smart urban shelter for the homeless which uses
excess heat from building HVAC systems to inflate and warm its
structure. The paraSITE shelters are collapsible, cost under $5, are
made with clear and sometimes Ziploc plastic bags and can be customized
to fit different spatial requirements.
