Cardborigami Unfolds Into a Portable Housing Shelter

<a href="http://stevens.usc.edu/read_article.php?news_id=517" target="_blank">Tina Hovsepian</a>, a 2009 graduate from the USC School of Architecture, has designed and developed a foldable, portable, <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/09/17/life-cube-inflatable-emergency-shelter-sets-up-in-5-min/" target="_blank">emergency housing shelter</a> based on the principles of origami. Her <a href="http://www.cardborigami.org/" target="_blank">Cardborigami</a> shelter is constructed from <a href="../tag/recycled-cardboard" target="_blank">recycled cardboard</a> and expands into a shelter big enough for two people to sleep in. The cardboard origami shelter can then fold down small enough to carry or even be placed on bus bike racks for long distance transport.

The cardboard origami homeless shelter was designed to be portable, lightweight, sustainable, naturally insulated and inexpensive.

While exploring architectural skins during architecture school at USC Stevens Institute for Innovation, Hovsepian thought up the idea to create the shelter and determined that the principles of origami could help her create it.

The cardboard already has some of its own structural properties, but folding it gives it even more structural support and transforms it into a cardboard tent.

The cardboard is easily expanded and unfolded from its flat, transportable mode and it can be set up within minutes.

At this point, the prototype is just made from recycled cardboard, but Hovsepian wants to make a fire retardant and waterproof version for more durability and greater comfort.

Cardborigami also features a floor so inhabitants of the shelter are not resting directly on the ground.

A flap can be folded up in the front to gain entrance and then it can be folded down for privacy.

Here Hovsepian is conducting field research on Skid Row to test out her prototype in order to make improvements to the design.

This version is for individuals and can house two persons inside laying down flat.

Hovsepian also designed and built a larger model that can act as a pavilion for multiple people.

This model is based on the same principles of origami but was more challenging to design because of its size.

Hovsepian is currently working with the non-profit organization Everyone Deserves a Roof to help develop the idea further, find a manufacturer and eventually distribute them to individuals who need them.

Cardborigami is made from a cheap, recyclable, sustainable, self-insulated, and structural material that becomes a portable, flexible, lightweight, structural skin and enclosure.