2015 Solar Decathlon: ShelteR³

Two pre-fabricated modules (living and kitchen/bath) are whisked via flatbed truck into a community that has been devastated by a natural disaster. The units are craned off the truck and attached together to form a disaster response command center or emergency relief housing. Roof mounted flat solar panels generate electricity and heat. The home or command center is self-sufficient and able to function before power and water are restored. Innovative impact resistant cladding and structural details protect from future storms and lend a sense of safety and security.

Eventually the community begins to rebuild from disaster and residential housing takes priority over disaster response. The structure is easily adapted to fit these evolving needs. A foundation is laid and the two modules are separated by twenty feet. The resulting space is covered with window walls on both ends to create a gracious living area between the bedrooms and kitchen and bath. Additional solar arrays are added on the roof for increased energy production. The innovative high-impact resistant cladding covers the exterior of both modules to continue to protect occupants from future storms. Cabinetry, customized to the owner's needs, helps separate living areas from the bedrooms. An exterior storage shed is added and helps define the outdoor deck and screen views. Twenty-foot wide sliding doors (with the same armor-like cladding) can be easily closed minutes before a storm, effectively sheltering the central living space and retractable garden wall from high winds and flying debris. The doors slide open once the threat of weather has passed.

The house need not be limited to post-disaster scenarios. In disaster-prone zones, the house offers a smart way to prepare for the possibility of storm winds and can be prefabricated or built on site. Innovative technologies can be adapted to new construction design or retro fitted in existing homes.