Project Description

The idea addresses the urgent need for accessible shelter during earthquakes, particularly in regions located along fault lines where seismic events are increasingly frequent. The design intention is to create a life-saving refuge that is immediately available, intuitive to use, and integrated into daily life. Recognizing that modern cities and apartments often lack dedicated space for emergency shelters, this idea proposes a multipurpose solution—a piece of furniture that functions normally for dining, bedding, or meetings but transforms into a protective micro-shelter during seismic events. By embedding safety within everyday furniture, the design encourages consistent use and preparedness without requiring extra space, making the most of the 10 m³ constraint.

The furniture compresses a protective void beneath its surface while maintaining comfort and accessibility for users. The structural system is carefully designed to resist debris, while soft edges and ergonomic dimensions ensure safety and usability. The shelter is both functional and visually integrated into everyday environments, ensuring innovative spatial design can maximize utility within tight constraints. These characteristics align with the lens of Design Ingenuity.

The furniture also communicates meaning, instinct, and emotional reassurance. The design draws inspiration from primitive cave shelters, translating this symbolism into contemporary furniture language. It creates an intuitive behavior pattern: in the event of an earthquake, users instinctively move beneath it. This act transforms a mundane object into a life-saving refuge, embedding a ritualized narrative of safety within daily life. Emotional experience is central; the compact, enclosed space provides a sense of protection and calm amid chaos. The design highlights how a small, thoughtfully designed volume can communicate memory, instinct, identity, and emotional atmosphere while maintaining a visually familiar and socially acceptable presence, securing the lens of Narrative Depth.

The lens of Future Resilience is emphasized through adaptation, utility, and preparedness for uncertain conditions. The table functions as a portable, replicable micro-shelter that can be deployed in homes, offices, or classrooms. Its integration into everyday life ensures users remain prepared for emergencies without requiring additional storage or dedicated shelter rooms. The design also supports community resilience, as multiple tables across spaces can collectively enhance safety. Features such as built-in compartments for emergency kits, lighting, or communication devices further expand its utility, providing short-term survival support while remaining fully functional as furniture under normal conditions.

The 10 m³ volume constraint shaped the design by enforcing maximum spatial efficiency, careful ergonomic consideration, and compact structural logic. The protective void was optimized for human use for safety, while the surrounding surfaces remain functional for daily activities. This constraint reinforces the project’s core philosophy: meaningful disaster preparedness can exist within minimal space, demonstrating that architecture and furniture can converge to create life-saving, multi-functional micro-architecture that is inventive, symbolic, and resilient