DISSERTATION

PARASITIC ARCHITECTURE: SOLUTION FOR HOMELESSNESS

SUPERVISED BY

AR. SEEMA KHARBANDA

1. BACKGROUND

Today, 55% of the world’s population lives in urban areas, a

proportion that is expected to increase to 68% by 2050. Projections
show that urbanization combined with the overall growth of the
world’s population could add another 2.5 billion people to urban
areas by 2050.
Living in these densely urbanized pockets is not just ridiculously
expensive, but also substandard for average and low economic
groups. Moreover, the cost of living increases so rapidly that being at
the same pace with it becomes almost impossible for most
households, resulting in an abysmal quality of life.

A possible solution can be to smartly increase the availability of

liveable spaces in the cities and structures that are already thriving
with people.

2. CHALLENGE

As we seek to increase the unavailability of spaces cities that are

developed, with a robust infrastructure.

New structures and functions now feel obligated to be nurtured by

the existing ones acting as selfless hosts. New architecture now feels
obligated to be the parasite!

Parasitic architecture is defined as a building that is attached to an

existing larger structure. As parasitic architecture serves as a solution
to an urban problem, the proposal has to be based in a densely
populated urban context. Additionally, the parasite should be serving
a topological purpose that is public in nature and resonates with the
function of its host and its immediate context. Thus, the parasite will
embed itself firmly into the urban fabric with a basic economic
relevance

3. AIM
Due to cities’ density, growing homelessness and immigration
problems seems to divert the aim of the trend from artistic
manifestations to social actions.

4. OBJECTIVES

 To better leverage existing structures and reclaim under-

utilized urban space.

 To develop understanding of common city problems such as

high rents and lack of space in urban cities.

 To explore the possibilities to be more future demanding and

fulfils the need.

 Realizing the potential of parasite for growing needs of today

and tomorrow.

5. NEED

Parasitic architecture is defined as a building that is attached to an

existing large structure. It developed in response to the need to solve
common city problems such as high rents and lack of space, and even
to provide relief from the suffocating heat that congestion creates in
urban areas.

6. KEY QUESTIONS

 Legal or illegal?

 Temporary and permanent?

 Issues are faced during conceptualising and construction?

7. SCOPE

In order to test if such strategies could be successfully used in

architecture.
Term parasitic architecture refers o wide scope of small scale
architectonic additions to existing buildings, they all expand volumes
of their hosts and sometime develops their functions.

8. LIMITATION OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

This study does not propose that parasitic architecture can solve the
common problems of the city such as high rents and lack of space
but rather than it can help to provide shelter to average and low
economic group of people.

This dissertation only focused in the problem of densely populated

urban context.

It is also emphasizes the solution to be provided to the existing or

new buildings by implementing new skills added to it.

9. METHODOLOGY

 Identification of the topic.

 To formulate the aim, objective for the study.

 Verification of scope and limitations.

 To find out research gap.

 Understand literature and case studies to find out issues.

 Conclusion and recommendations.

10. LITRETURE STUDY

a) Fernando Abellanas hanging studio

 Fernando Abellanas thinks he just might have come up with a

solution to the lack of space in many big cities. The Spanish
 designer earlier this year created a workspace that literally
hangs off a highway in Valencia, Spain.

 With a suspended floor made of plywood boards and metal

tubes, this makeshift studio actually uses the concrete overpass
as its walls and roof. The structure also takes advantage of
beams under the bridge: It uses them as a framework along
which it can side on a set of wheels.
 Measuring 7 by 7 feet (2.2 by 2.2 meters), this is a no-frills
space furnished only with a chair, artworks and photos and a
desk. It took Abellanas just a week to build.

 Abellanas' work is more abstract in its concept than it is a

"concrete solution" to housing issues -- rather an "invitation"
for people to reflect on the use of spaces, he says.

 He's not alone. From Paris to Thailand, creative minds are using
"parasite architecture" in increasingly creative and practical
ways to help us reconsider urban space.
b) Framlab’s Homed

Creative agency Framlab has proposed a new type of

architecture for housing New York City’s growing homeless
population. Called Homed, the temporary housing solution
comprises partly 3D-printed hexagonal pods that use
scaffolding to attach to the sides of unused, windowless
building facades. The modular units could be easily customized
for different uses and transported from site to site.
n an estimate by the Coalition for the Homeless, over 61,000
people are sleeping in New York City’s homeless shelters every
night, a growing number that Framlab pins in part to the loss of
single-room occupancy (SRO) units. In the face of rising real
estate costs, Framlab’s Homed proposal to bring back SROs
banks on the city’s abundance of “vertical land,” the blank
sidewalls of buildings that appear as developments come and
go. Using scaffolding to anchor the homes on the sidewalls,
Homed’s hexagon-shaped housing modules could form
temporary micro-neighbourhoods and a type of private and
attractive housing that most shelters are unable to provide.
Following Homed’s tagline “Creating a Shelter with Dignity,”
the tiny pods aim to create “a warm and friendly environment”
in a year-round home. Each aluminium-framed pod features
interior modules 3D printed from recyclable bioplastics and
clad with wood laminate. PMMA smart glass lets in ample
natural light, while the layer of thin film diodes provide privacy
and can be used to depict artwork or commercial content on
the outside. The flexibility of the modules allows a wide array
of uses that include sleeping, showering, and socializing.

Framlab notes that Homed isn’t a “single solution to the

situation. Rather, it is intended to be an instrument that plays a
part in the solution. The massive extent and complexity of the
situation requires work on a broad regulatory and policy-
making level. But, it is critical that the design community is part
of the process.”