Inflatable paraSITE Shelters Heated by Waste Heat

Mar-04-14 By harvesting the waste heat from HVAC units, the $5 paraSITE shelter provides a warm place for urban homeless.

Created by artist Michael Rakowitz, the shelters were inspired by the way Bedouin tents respond to the wind. The shelters, which Rakowitz designs-to-order (more windows, a lower profile, room to sit up) are made with clear garbage bags and Ziploc bags. When the shelter is attached to an HVAC unit at one end, it will fill with the air and inflate, providing a warm, temporary shelter. The freedom in the shelter design also allows them to be manufactured in a way that will remain in compliance with city laws.

Rakowitz, who teaches as Northwestern University in Chicago, plans to create more paraSITES next winter, and has made the design available for free.

More Info about this Invention:

[FASTCOEXIST.COM]
[MICHAEL RAKOWITZ]

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