An introduction from a new member of this forum.

[ACagedTraveller]

I remain new on this forum, and I have lurked on this forum for about ten months. I found this forum while performing a research project on homeless populations in the United States of America. Despite my limited life experience, I intend to check these forums frequently because the topics continue to pique my interest. I hope to attempt this living arrangement at some point in the next decade because the lifestyle holds an appeal that endures through time.

 

[ACagedTraveller]

I find the concept of solar power fascinating because it remains feasible in the lovely city of Los Angeles. I often wonder the reasons that many people tens to eschew the concept of vandwelling. Many people in my family gave me a unusual expression the first time that I mentioned a possible interest in this lifestyle. I tend to enjoy active participation in the communities that I join. This community also possesses another admirable trait in that lacks the usual assortment of obvious "trolls" and other inflammatory posters that promote trouble in a forum. I know only a single other forum that matches this description.

 

[rvwandering]

Welcome to the CRVL forums ACagedTraveller!

To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips & Tricks" post lists some helpful information to get you started. We look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[Theadyn]

Hi and Welcome!!

 

[eDJ_]

Hi and let me greet you with my most sincere welcome !    

We share much in common.   I have an Industrial Design background and in school days we kicked around
possibilities  for micro homes for the Homeless.  I had noticed the extensive use they make of grocery shopping carts and wanted to develop something along that line for them.   Having been a Boy Scout in my youth I had plenty of experience with improvised outdoor living and shelter creation.

Here is the kind of things we came up with.

Mobile Homeless Shelter

http://www.designboom.com/design/mobile-homeless-shelter/

But wouldn't you know it.  Some of the "Civic Leader Types" rejected this whole notion referring to them as
"Bum Boxes".  They didn't even want to see a prototype exhibited.  (the last two illustrations in the photo gallery are typical of what we came up with.  Just drawings.  I was wanting to work on something "geodesic"
that could expand from a box structure to create a small "zome" like the tiny homes that are popular today.

No doubt you've seen these expanding canopies that collapse to a very small bundle.  This is an example
of an expansion structure that would be contained to use as part of the box.

As for your quest for experience in this realm,  we have had difficult times before in the USA and
a Film industry with talented people to showcase life in those times.  Fortunately they had a sense
of humor to go with it.  You may find a kindred spirit in this Movie.   And even more in the CRVL community.


Sullivan's Travels part 1 of 9  (circa 1941)




You might also look for this Novel by Gurney Norman, "Divine Right's Trip" (1960's)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_Right's_Trip

 

[ACagedTraveller]

Hi and let me greet you with my most sincere welcome !    

We share much in common.   I have an Industrial Design background and in school days we kicked around
possibilities  for micro homes for the Homeless.  I had noticed the extensive use they make of grocery shopping carts and wanted to develop something along that line for them.   Having been a Boy Scout in my youth I had plenty of experience with improvised outdoor living and shelter creation.

Here is the kind of things we came up with.

Mobile Homeless Shelter

http://www.designboom.com/design/mobile-homeless-shelter/

But wouldn't you know it.  Some of the "Civic Leader Types" rejected this whole notion referring to them as
"Bum Boxes".  They didn't even want to see a prototype exhibited.  (the last two illustrations in the photo gallery are typical of what we came up with.  Just drawings.  I was wanting to work on something "geodesic"
that could expand from a box structure to create a small "zome" like the tiny homes that are popular today.

No doubt you've seen these expanding canopies that collapse to a very small bundle.  This is an example
of an expansion structure that would be contained to use as part of the box.

As for your quest for experience in this realm,  we have had difficult times before in the USA and
a Film industry with talented people to showcase life in those times.  Fortunately they had a sense
of humor to go with it.  You may find a kindred spirit in this Movie.   And even more in the CRVL community.


Sullivan's Travels part 1 of 9  (circa 1941)




You might also look for this Novel by Gurney Norman, "Divine Right's Trip" (1960's)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_Right's_Trip

I was also a boy scout for several years, and this time also included experience with the production of improvised shelters. While I conducted the research for this paper, I also found a similiar concept that an organization plans to enact in San Diego that includes the production of single room prefabricated homes for homeless individuals. I am currently working towards an undergraduate degree in Structural Geology. I am short on time and money, but I continue to feel the pull of the outdoors (the degree goal reflects this inclination). I also have seen in my time the conversion of small commercial freight vehicles into trailers. This means that I have some exposure with the concept of conversions for vehicles. I decided to join this forum since few individuals in my immediate vicinity share this fascination with me. It means that I share more in common with the people on this forum right now than many people in real life.

 

[eDJ_]

Since the "Great Recession" there have been numerous stories of Students building makeshift or experimental shelters to live in in order to conserve their funds and not have to sink further into student loan debt.  This
in some cases has a faculty adviser participating in the project.  Not a bad way to gain some research for faculty members with interest in this trend and also providing them with data to publish.


Here's a blog showcasing some examples of tiny homes and alternate shelter.

http://www.theshelterblog.com/student-builds-tiny-home-material-salvaged-earthquake/


Here is a PBS feature from a show titled, "Religion & Ethics" narrated by Lucky Severinsen.

"Opportunity Village"  (this is looking at not only the shelter but the support of a small community)

http://www.pbs.org/video/2365342403/

 

[eDJ_]

Just saw this in today's Yahoo Real Estate    Some possible material for school.

https://www.yahoo.com/realestate/tiny-home-village-in-dallas-1322025837772854.html

Dallas could be a great area for aggregating Solar power into the roofs of tiny homes.  Perhaps some day they
will build super insulated tiny homes and figure a way to have an aluminum clad wall with a Solar  thermoelectric "Peltier" cooling system in it to keep the interior livable in the heat.  If there were no windows the lighting may be possible with fiber optic transfer. (HSL)  As for outside view small web cams arranged on the exterior could display a toggled view on a  flat screen monitor/tv inside. 

In the evenings in arid desert locations, when it cools down quickly, the Peltier (thermoelectric) AC could reverse and become a heating source.  A Peltier chip gets as cold on one side as it does hot on the other when voltage is applied.  Thus the "thermoelectric effect".  A lot of computer geeks cool their Game Computer CPU's today with peltier chips.


Thermoelectric  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_cooling

HSL (hybrid solar lighting)  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_solar_lighting

Tiny Home Village in Dallas aims to revolutionize Homeless Care