Parasitic Emergency Homes Can Be Implanted Onto Abandoned Buildings

<a href="http://inhabitat.com/sustainability-park-davis-brody-bond-architects/">São Paulo</a>, Brazil is known for its vibrant culture, but as of late, it's also been in the news because of its deadly <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-12164441">floods and mudslides</a>. Seeing the aftermath of these disasters, designer <a href="http://cargocollective.com/mikereyes#765352/">Mike Reyes</a> decided to come up with an emergency shelter concept for the survivors of future floods. The result is Rise, a prefabricated, modular dwelling that could be implanted onto an abandoned building <a href="http://inhabitat.com/parasitic-city-takes-over-decommissioned-italian-highway/">like a parasite</a>.

"With an avant-garde approach and forward thinking, as a designer, my goal was to provide sustainable homes for the stranded survivors in all the overly populated mega city, for this project specifically São Paulo," writes Reyes of his design.

"These emergency shelters are designed to rebuild a new community and help start future development. Rise's method of creating a community is like a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/prefab-friday-parasitic-homes-take-root-on-empty-walls/">parasite</a>, they take ownership, re-purposing and aiding abandoned structures; providing resources."

Inspired by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Favela">favelas</a> or Brazilian shanty towns, the structures are box-like homes that can be attached onto the facades of other buildings.

Reyes' concept is unique in that it actually enlists able-bodied survivors to assist with the implementation of the shelters - a cool idea, since it empowers them to take action instead of simply sitting around, waiting for help.

Reyes envisions that the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/architecture/prefab-housing/">pre-constructed</a> structures could be airlifted by helicopter to sites where they are needed and then guided into place with the help of survivors.

They "clip" onto building facades using leverage.

Each shelter would contain beds, lighting, storage and a skylight and be made of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/recycled-materials">recycled materials</a> from local construction sites.

There would also be attachments for solar energy, water purification and organic farming.

Finding muse in the famous <a href="http://flavorwire.com/90757/favela-painting-on-a-mission-to-color-the-community">favela paintings</a> of Rio de Janeiro, Reyes also hopes that survivors will be able to use the walls of their shelters as canvases.

Once they are settled in, they can use painting as a creative outlet as they begin the process of healing.

A side view of the shelters.