Local Cultures – Global Spaces

Abstract

The growing housing insecurity in major American cities in recent years has become increasingly more visible in university campuses.The growing cost of housing and the limited availability of affordable options on or near campus has forced many students to seek housing far away from the urban core and commute long distances to the university. This paper examines the problem of housing insecurity among commuter students at UCLA, Los Angeles, and addresses it through an architectural intervention: specially designed and fabricated mobile pods called “Beans”. The paper describes the research, design and deployment of the pods at UCLA Bruin Hub as a case study as well as the launch of the Bruin Hub, which provides spaces of rest and community. The inclusive design process relied on multiple programming sessions with user groups focused on developing a better understanding of students behavior and specific needs, followed by the design and fabrication of various one-to-one scale prototypes tested by different student groups, the analysis of the test results and the incorporation of the user feedback, and finally the design selection and production of the Beans. Conceived as a micro-environment for studying, eating, or resting, each Bean is equipped with a light, power outlets, a privacy screen, and a flexible interior that can be modified from “work” to “sleep” mode. The project positions itself as a low-cost, temporary prototype that could be deployed at any location on campuses across the nation.