Project Description

FOLD / UNFOLD investigates how a strictly limited volume of 10 cubic meters can operate across contrasting spatial conditions—public and private, permanent and temporary, ordinary and emergency. The project proposes a collapsible, accordion-shaped micro-shelter that adapts to different urban and humanitarian contexts without altering its volumetric constraint. 

The design exists in two primary use cases. In its first condition, the module functions as a bus stop or public seating unit within parks, sidewalks, or transit edges. Here, the structure is partially unfolded, creating an open-fronted, shaded enclosure with integrated seating. The semi-transparent skin allows visual permeability and ventilation, encouraging social interaction while offering protection from sun and rain. Multiple units can be placed linearly or in clusters, forming informal waiting zones or micro-gathering spaces within the urban fabric.

In its second condition, the same structure transforms into an emergency shelter. Through a simple folding action along articulated side frames and an accordion skin, the module fully encloses itself, creating a compact, weatherproof refuge suitable for short-term habitation. This configuration prioritizes privacy, safety, and spatial efficiency, while remaining lightweight and transportable. The transformation requires no additional components—only the reconfiguration of the existing 10m³ volume. The accordion mechanism is central to the project’s spatial logic. Folding compresses space for transport, storage, and deployment, while unfolding generates inhabitable depth and ergonomic seating. This kinetic transformation allows the structure to respond to changing needs over time, making it suitable for both everyday civic use and crisis scenarios such as displacement, flooding, or temporary resettlement.

Materially, the project combines a lightweight structural frame with a flexible, weather-resistant envelope. The base platform anchors the module while remaining light enough for relocation. The skin operates as both enclosure and filter—mediating light, airflow, and visibility depending on its degree of extension. By working within the fixed volume of 10m3, FOLD / UNFOLD treats space as a finite resource that must be carefully negotiated rather than expanded. The project aligns with the lenses of Design Ingenuity and Future Resilience, proposing micro-architecture not as a static object, but as a responsive system—one that adapts through motion, minimal means, and thoughtful compression.

Ultimately, the project suggests that architecture does not need to be large to be meaningful. Through folding, a small volume becomes capable of supporting waiting, rest, shelter, and survival—quietly shifting roles as circumstances demand.