The Calyx Project by Forage Built

The Calyx Project aims to break the cycle of homelessness, through an innovative 16sqm transitional housing solution with a community focus. Demonstrating how architecture can resolve complex social issues, the project’s key difference is its level of engagement from the wider community – successfully utilising built form to raise awareness and funds.

There is a current shortage of affordable housing for people experiencing homelessness in Australia. Data shows that in recent years, there has been an increase in returning clients to specialist homelessness services and those receiving assistance have required longer periods of support.

Social enterprise Forage Built offers a new approach and solution to combat the current homelessness crisis. Looking at the issue holistically, The Calyx Project’s model not only aims to reduce repeat homelessness but also to break the stereotypes around what it means to be homeless, helping people reintegrate into society by gaining skills and employment to sustain long-term housing.

It’s believed that by reducing the reoffend rate, the scalable economic benefits and demand on ongoing government funding streams across correctional services, emergency accommodation, and hospitalisation costs should also be realised.

—

Unlike traditional solutions that repurpose existing housing stock or utilise temporary use of motels and share houses, the project utilises the tiny home concept for transitional housing. The Calyx-16 is a 16sqm, safe, affordable, modular, transportable, energy-efficient and eco-friendly dwelling — a dignified place to call home.

The concept stems from the definition of ‘calyx’, a flower’s outer layer protecting the petals as they develop, creating its own protective layer around the occupant to offer a personal haven to sleep safely and store belongings.

Designed by Studio Nine Architects Managing Director Andrew Steele, each pod sleeps one, with an ensuite, small kitchen, porch area and ample storage space.

As a transportable piece of architecture with no context, the exterior intended to make an impact. Whilst environmentally sound, white proudly stands out within an urban setting, symbolising new beginnings.

Encapsulating Forage Built’s vision ‘smallest impact on the environment, biggest impact on the community’, the design uses cost-effective, robust, high-performing, environmentally conscious materials, is solar powered, and committed to being carbon neutral.

The Calyx-16 can be configured in multiple ways. Its modular design allows for optional wet areas and can be configured onsite to include sleeping quarters and living for a small family.
Due to its modular design, the Calyx-16 can be configured in multiple ways to adapt to different demographics — tuning the product to the problem, such as youth homeless, elderly homeless, people with pets, domestic violence victims (individual or with children). The footprint can multiply to 32sqm to accommodate additional living space or occupants.

—

The Calyx homes are not designed to exist in isolation, but rather built within villages, fostering community and reintegration into society.

The village concept (yet to be piloted) requires five ingredients: a socially conscious developer or landowner, capital partner (financier), placement by an agency, management by a non-for-profit and employment opportunities by a social enterprise. Early collaboration with Council is also required to understand how social impact will be managed.

Targeted towards activating under-utilised CBD sites, such as dormant carparks or vacant lots awaiting development on a medium-term ground lease arrangement, villages can be established on a medium-term basis, utilising the modular design to relocate to the next site when required. This model gives landowners the opportunity to positively contribute to a social issue while entering a lease arrangement that achieves returns on otherwise idle property.

A village would include more than four pods, with an agency placing complementary cohorts to manage social risks. Designated pods for caseworkers to reside onsite and provide 24-hour support will be located within the village and managed by a not-for-profit. A larger central communal pod would house a kitchen, laundry area and space for skill-based workshops, allowing residents to safely connect, access services and learn new skills through employment opportunities.

—

Funded through donations, the construction of the prototype has become a highly successful marketing tool, raising awareness of a complicated social issue and funding for the first village.

The project is a key example of how Architects’ skillset can be used to resolve complex social issues through clever built-form solutions. Leveraging a transactional consumer model to create transformational change, the prototype has facilitated a series of opportunities for businesses and individuals to get behind a cause with a tangible purpose, including; partnerships and displays at key community events; collaboration with IKEA to produce bespoke joinery solutions for future pods; fundraising and for purchase product collaboration with local, national and international companies; endorsement from peak industry bodies and key entities; recognition through national award programs including a prestigious Good Design Award; and monetary contributions from financial institutions and private sponsors.

The prototype has also enabled partnerships with local schools, running workshops with students to educate the next generation on the impact built-form and the architectural practice can have on the world.

—

The Calyx Project isn’t the first of its kind. Similar models already exist nationally and internationally, utilising architecturally designed tiny homes and a village concept to tackle the issue of homelessness and affordable housing. This was an intentional decision, stemming from the desire to utilise a model that could be easily understood (especially by local communities) and replicated anywhere in the world.

The key difference between this and similar models is the scale of engagement from the wider community — it is a social consciousness piece rather than a sole focus on the design. Instead of a closed loop, the project has a larger eco-system and encourages collaboration and engagement across multiple streams of society.

Whilst this is a piece of built form addressing a social issue, what the project has achieved goes beyond this. It is a benchmark in what true, meaningful cross-disciplinary, multi-industry collaboration can accomplish.

—

For more information about Forage Built visit: https://foragebuilt.com.au/