notes & works: shelter bus embrace

After a disaster, relief workers and volunteers are rushed to the disaster site from various locations to offer their assistance. They leave their homes and families to enter unfamiliar and inhospitable situations that demand selflessness and emotional strength. They come to offer support and comfort to others without expecting to get the same in return. After a physically or emotionally difficult day, a simple hug can be invaluable. Disaster relief workers are often far from their family and friends and may not have access to their own network of support. This shelter bus embraces the workers staying in it. At the end of a difficult day it helps them to be calmed and renewed before the next grueling day begins. A soft, neutral color palate and rounded room edges and corners envelope the workers as soon as they enter. Pop-out dining and bed areas and circular shower and bath stalls create small, intimate spaces that wrap and enfold the users. The chairs and sofa in the living and dining areas are bowl-like upholstered pieces that cradle the body as a mother's lap or loved one's arms might. The forms and decoration within the bus are simple and minimal in order to contribute to a feeling of calm. Well-organized storage spaces throughout the bus hold clothing, food, and bath items in a user-friendly way that makes daily tasks stress free. Multiple shower stalls make morning traffic flow more smoothly and private sleeping areas offer valuable time alone. This shelter bus physically holds and cradles the workers in a physically comforting way while its features function to reduce stress and create a mental feeling of calm and comfort in these guest’s otherwise very stressful days.

PROCESS