The nomadic lives migrant farmers lead often pose challenges within their daily lives. Single men dominate this field of work, however working families exist as well, with children often in accompaniment. More often than not, this minority population falls well below the poverty line. They cannot afford housing. There is little stability, and communities and relationships are difficult to form.
““It is ironic that those who till the soil, cultivate and harvest the fruits, vegetables, and other foods that fill your tables with abundance have nothing left for themselves.””
Recently, states along the west coast of the United states have begun allowing farm owners to provide housing for their workers on site - a historically illegally practice. This studio focused on developing a new type of housing for this population of migrant farm workers.
We were asked to design a small, economic, and repeatable unit with under 400 square feet of interior space that four people could inhabit. The social and mental health of these people were of particular importance to me. I found myself continuously asking the questions like "how do you invite someone into your home, when you barely have enough space for yourself?" and "How can we offer people a living space that also allows them to live with dignity?"
I sought to answer these questions through design.
