Shelter for one: RU students help others while they learn

homeless-flyer

Portable homeless structures built for one is the current project for Radford University Department of Design students. Along with a fundraiser for the homeless, their results are on view Feb. 9 at the Hurlburt Student Center Plaza.

“Our goal in the department is for students to understand that design can be used for groups with different socio-economic means,” said Joan Dickinson, associate professor of interior design, who teaches the Interior Design 205 Studio II class that is working on this project.

The class is divided into five groups of three to four students. Each group decides upon what type of person they shelter and design a structure accordingly. Then they engage in extensive information gathering.

Dickinson says the goal of the course is for each student to clearly understand the population they design for and to gain a sense of empathy.

They research several factors before the actual building of a structure begins. They study the demographics about the homeless, causes for why people become homeless and what difficulties the homeless encounter. Then they learn about types of materials that help protect against the weather related elements, historical freestanding structures, and past solutions to portable homeless structures.

“The students are encouraged to be creative in their material use and try to use found objects,” Dickinson said. “In the past students have visited the campus warehouse, the dump, and have also received donations from Lowes. Past materials have included: wood, tarps, cardboard, Bubble Wrap, hula hoops.”

Along with the public viewing of the finished structures, the class will collect donations for To Our House, an organization that houses homeless men in the New River Valley. Currently there is not a local homeless shelter. During cold months, To Our House works with churches in the area to provide housing for men.

The design student’s portable homeless structures are on view from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 9. at the Hurlburt Student Center Plaza. For more information about the Department of Design, visit www.radford.edu/design. To learn more about To Our House, go to www.toourhouse.org.

Feb 4, 2015
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