LOCATED ON THE GROUND But Hung

Sydney Miller’ design for Flock House includes

1. Support System, 2. Chicken Wire, 3. Spray foam insulation, 4. Suspension, 5. Flooring: Plastic Sheet or Rubber Layer over support system and chicken wire.

Sydney Miller, Flock House, Located on the ground, but hung…

Words that Sydney associates the NYC Flock House: “space travel, safety, inviting, shell, protecting.” She “would love to spend time in the Flock House in the woods.” She would use “recycled chicken wire, old wooden cabinets and spray foam insulation.”

On a design team she brings attention to “appearance, look, research on the overall feeling/emotion.” She says “yes” to a Flock House convergence, “to be a part of a tiny village of voyagers… of course!”

She offers these words about Flock House and the world. “The Flock Houses, although created/made up of fragile material, together make shelter that can protect, which is more than what most have in this world. Designed for specific climates, the Flock Houses could be a success.”

3 explore NYC Flock House

Elijah thinks of “camping” and using “rain catcher, hamster running wheel, cut a hole in the floor, have little pots.” Use “the strong stuff” for recycled building materials. He would give “lemonade and tea” to the design team, “for when they get tired.” About its utility for displacement and suffering – “I don’t know that the flock house is as easily set up and movable as most refugee camps. But with all the different uses that it has, it could be more useful than just a tent.”

His drawing of a Flock House titled Cool Beans

Elijah – Cool Beans Flock House design

Paige working in NYC Flock House at Bemis Center – Old Market

This fall Paige will be a high school junior in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Her response to the NYC Flock House focused its “harmony, structure and sense of seclusion,” but also “togetherness.” She can see how Mary Mattingly’s dystopian photographs of a post-human environment “tie in with the Flock House.” To create a self-sustaining unit means to “collect water, create a garden on or around, and lots of surface space for solar energy.” Recycled materials would be “common ones like paper, plastic and aluminum.”

Paige’s interest is in making “the Flock House functional and livable, while also keeping the character and original purpose.” This would mean spending time there, staying overnight, and visiting set up Flock House communities.  In a challenging environment, “the Flock House serves as a place of salvation and isolation in a ‘Brave New World/1984ish’ future. A place where things can still be created.”

Paige’s designs are from a recycled bus and a technically upscale air balloon.

Paige’s hot air balloon is a Flock House.

Paige recycled a ready to travel school bus by placing gardens on the roof and furnishing livable interior space.

Octavia Butler in NYC Flock House at Bemis Center – Old Market

Octavia is an elementary school teacher who “always connects anything I experience to teaching.” When seeing the NYC Flock House, she imagined “a space on a school ground” that “would breed such creativity.” In addition, it would “bring consideration for the current state of our world (use/waste of resources) and how to re-imagine it all.”

For self-sufficiency, a Flock House requires:  “H₂O = integrate rain barrel, E = solar or wind? Garden boxes affixed to outside, or maybe hanging gardens?” Recycled materials to build Flock Houses are “metals, recycled plastics for covering.”  As a member of a design team, Octavia would bring her “experience as a gardener” and her disposition as a “puzzler.” “I love visualizing possibilities & trying them out.”  She has also served as a member of “my school’s outdoor classroom committee.”

“As portable units,” the great contribution of Flock House to addressing population displacement is how they “adapt and move to fit a need.  If the Flock Houses have H₂O/E/Waste set up, they can be used temporarily by those experiencing a crisis. It also would allow people to be more mobile if they have a portable shelter.”

Her drawing of a Flock House design is below.

Octavia’s Flock House has a fire pit and vent for heat and cooking, and gardens.

Flock House floor plan shows Convertible seating/beds and Trap door storage with thermal cooling.

Every day, young people visit Bemis Center in Old Market in small groups or with their families. There are two drawing areas in the Palimpsest project.  One is inside the NYC Flock House and the other is at large tables where archival photos and print resources from the NYC Flock Houses display. In the quiet of the day, it is not always noticed that people are drawing.  They leave their work behind, and it is found when I replenish materials.

I post these drawings with the first names of children, but not their last names, for their protection. When they write their last name on their drawing, I block it out, for their protection.

Rachel – age 9, grade 4

When they write their grade in school or their age, it is left on the drawing. If it is on the back of the drawing, I add it to the caption.

Katie, grade 6

Mathew

Unknown

Elise

Marissa

Nat, grade 4

Sophia, age 10, grade 5

Unknown, easel

Updated July 28, 2014

Sometimes visitors complete a 7 questions sheet, then leave it behind without identifying information. This is because there is not always someone available to introduce them to the Flock House exhibit, or clarify how to respond to the Palimpsest directions at the entrance to the NYC Flock House.

These responses are valuable and deserve their own section in the archives.  As these sheets come in, I will update this post with new information.

1. What did you think of when you saw the Flock House? (Its design, a memory, how you would change it, a feeling you had about it.)

I felt free – it reminds me of the climbing structure on the playground. I always pretended it was a vehicle or a space “house.”

In this age of disposable everything, it is refreshing to know that there are those that have a passion for global resource stewardship.

The wood made me think of the wood furniture we had when I was a chid.

Pumpkin, or Cinderella’s carriage

Mad Max beyond Thunderdome

I think of a living space for one person. It would change…

I’d like to see more actual structures – or make the pictures much larger – almost life size.

Covered wagon

Easily assembled, strong, changeable for weather, somewhat cold/industrial feel.

Pleasing shapes

A covered wagon / getting ready for story time / teepee crossed with an Igloo. envies in a bottle.

2. Would you like to spend time in a Flock House?  Spend the night?

Yes

Yes, it would be an experience I have not had before.

Spend time, yes. Spend a night, probably not.

Yes to lounge. I’d spend the night in one. (If the weather was good.)

Maybe

I would spend a night in the Flock House under a huge tree.

Yes

Maybe – it would be cold!

Yes. Yes. I need to think about what I would do to pas the time. I think I would be more productive, more physical.

Yes, and I’d spend the night

Absolutely. Someplace to relax and unwind, like read a book or art making.

3. How can a Flock House be equipped with its own source of water, energy and waste collection? Gardens to grow food and herbs?

Collection tanks – water conduits as the structural supports – solar panels – warm water to hear structure.

Water: rain and/or dew collectors. Energy: interchangeable coverings to absorb or reflect solar heat.

I’m not sure.

Garden & Food depends on location. Could be treated like a camper for water & waste.

Put it next to a river or stream and all that is taken care of, No?

?

An architect says it can’t

Water purification tabs, wind or solar generator. Bury the waste? Gardens could be grown in pots or beds indoors or out.

water – rain barrels, garden, old tires used for containers, energy – solar, waste – composting, reusing non-recyclables

Portable irrigation system, not huge solar metal panels, minimalistic so no need for energy (if needed, burn waste or compost.) grow food & herbs in boxes outside pod.

4. If you were on a Flock House design team, what recycled building materials would you suggest?

Billboard sheeting

Salvaged commercial grade roofing panels.

Metal shipping containers, glass, and ceramics.

Something natural – woven grass or twigs.

More cushions

Wood

Parachute material, wood, twine, nylon rope

Our school just there into our local landfill old (15 years) windows.

scrap wood from wooden boats, tarp, old canvas, mosquito nets

5. What could you contribute to a design and building team? (Skills, knowledge, experience, interest)

Creativity and brawn.

Interest: good direction follower and tireless worker.

interest and labor

Not much I’m afraid

Design skill

Interest

Emotional support, sarcastic comments

Interest, problem-solving ability

Finding places to install as well as places to place the Flock Houses

6. Now there are only a few Houses in a tiny global Flock.  Imagine if hundreds migrated to one place, and set up for several weeks. Would you want to be there?

No

To be honest, I have become very jaded. I might be interested in trying it for a couple of days.

Yes, depending on the other people & the place of the convergence

Sounds fun. Like a more eco-conscious Burning Man.

Maybe

Sure

I don’t do flocking things… (i.e. birds)

Yes, I envision a community of cliff dwellers in the desert.

It could be a bit overwhelming, but it would be cool!

7. What role might the Flock House play in addressing population displacement and suffering? (Such as: Drought, Scarcity, Famine, Armed attack and property damage, Disruptions or absence of utilities such as electricity, communications, sanitation, and water?)

Could relocate for work. Could move to natural resources as they arise. Could move with the weather for climate control. Could relocate populations to relive concentration. Design a pattern sung resources of salvage from locals to be used in undeveloped countries. “teach the person to fish” and they will have a home for a lifetime … and generations to come!

Having interacted with numerous individuals from 3rd world nations, I have noticed that they have a great appreciation for the most basic structures they can call “home.”

Seems to be ideal for both natural disasters and man-made conflicts that create large numbers of refugees.

If you could standardize one out of materials endemic to whatever area was experiencing the disaster, it could be really helpful on a mass scale.

It could help people a lot in areas of distress or emergency or natural disaster.

If there was a simple way to move and construct a flock house it could help people fleeing war.

Tent villages

These would have been great after the earthquake in Haiti, or the typhoons, after a tornado. They could be easily trucked or helicoptered to the areas along with emergency food, water, clothing.

It could and probably would improve displacement and suffering. Many people flee harmful homes and have to leave. Flock Houses would provide them a place to stay temporarily until they find something more permanent.

These four visitors agreed to answer the 7 questions (3) and drew their vision of Flock House as an idea (4). I will take this opportunity to share the complete wording for the 7 questions and their answers. This provides a more accurate representation of these data at the the primary level of organization.

Group of 4 sits at table to complete the 7 Questions sheet.

1. What did you think of when you saw the Flock House? (Its design, a memory, how you would change it, a feeling you had about it.)

Is it for one person or a whole family? do you migrate in it? If so then it would work well for the future where there will be less space.

It makes me think of the future.

It brought me a different view of what is to come.

2. Would you like to spend time in a Flock House?  Spend the night?

I would like to spend the night in a flock house to see what it feels like.

I probably would not want to spend the night in a flock house since I am so used to my bed and lifestyle.

Most likely.

3. How can a Flock House be equipped with its own source of water, energy and waste collection? Gardens to grow food and herbs?

If it has wheels you can migrate to the nearest water source, you could only use sunlight for energy.

There can be a water tank for a source of water. There can be solar panels for energy. There can be a waste basket.  There can be a garden outside of the house.

I feel that it is dependent on where it is.

Drawing from Group of 4, water, solar, garden on movable Flock House.

Group of 4 drawing – wind energy, filtered rain water, waste container.

4. If you were on a Flock House design team, what recycled building materials would you suggest?

Wood, metal, plastic

Old wood, plastic bags, plastics, old tires, metals

Sheet metal, plywood.

5. What could you contribute to a design and building team? (Skills, knowledge, experience, interest)

I know how to sew.  Just being a member of the team can impact the outcome of the design.

Having it be small and efficient.

Group of 4 – Features free standing, mobile design and communications

6. Now there are only a few Houses in a tiny global Flock.  Imagine if hundreds migrated to one place, and set up for several weeks. Would you want to be there?

Sounds like warped tour. Yes.

I could not imagine living in a flock house. However, it would be a sight to see.

I could not imagine spending so much time in a place with so many Flock Houses.

7. What role might the Flock House play in addressing population displacement and suffering? (Such as: Drought, Scarcity, Famine, Armed attack and property damage, Disruptions or absence of utilities such as electricity, communications, sanitation, and water?)

It could definitely be a cheaper way for more people to have homes, no children would go homeless or cold.

Flock Houses provide people compact homes.  It is easy for migration. People will learn to take what they need and value every resource.

Easy migrations to a different area, living style would become nomadic.

Group of 4 – design uses wind to move Flock House on wheels.

When Brian Wetjen saw the Flock House, his first response was, “I want one in my backyard.” He wants to spend time in one, and overnight. He would equip it with “hose, solar, hatches and panels for access to growing things or sanitation.” For materials he would use “anything, preferably what can be salvaged, recycled or re-used. But one in a way that looks intentional and cool.”

He would provide “craftsmanship, engineering, interface, visibility, design materials, concepts, integration into environments” to a design and building team.  “Yes,” he would go if a Flock of Flock Houses migrated to a single place.

The Flock House idea might play a role in addressing population displacement and suffering. “By coming up with new and unique ways to build, source, locate and place shelters, perhaps we can solve some problems and create new solutions when it comes to meeting those needs of those who would be helped most by it.”

Below is Brian’s drawing with these words on the back of the page:  “integrate nature into life”

Brian Wetjen – “integrate nature into life”

Calder Wetjen, Age 6

Karen Bahr completing 7 Questions before building Flock House model in the NYC Flock House

Karen Bahr is a court interpreter for Spanish.  She is also a member of Faerie Tones folk music band, an Acro Yoga teacher, and sells Faerie ear cuffs on her Etsy site, Same Sky Wings

This week she joined the Palimpsest project at the Flock House Omaha Project. On August 6th she will lead a Yoga Circle Ceremony to introduce a vision for community in future human society. In our future, she explained, “we will be in close quarters in neighborhoods” that are self-sustaining. In addition to new technology, urban gardens and sustainable architecture, “it will require greater cooperation.” To distribute resources and live with security, “we will need to help each other out, and to communicate well with respect and clarity.”

The ceremony will last about a half-hour, to be followed by music, dance, hula hoops and making faerie ear cuffs. Combining serious ideas and playful fun.

When responding to the 7 Questions, Karen saw the NYC Flock House as “a covered wagon crossed with Cinderella’s pumpkin coach.” “Yes,” she wants to spend the night in the Omaha Flock House with her sister, when she comes to visit. She envisions a “water tank hung at the top with some kind of hose coming down. You could also hang planters or trays from the support beams to grow food.” Recycled building materials might come from buildings “that are being torn down or parts being thrown out.”

To design future neighborhoods, we need to “think about mobility needs, and what people from all different walks of life might need.” This would include “safety measures and resource sharing/cooperation.” Mobile self-sustaining Flock Houses “would allow people to easily move to places where there are resources and safety.”

Karen’s design for a Flock House is a model on wheels. It can collapse to become a trailer to transport essentials, or opened into a living or commerce structure.

Karen Bahr’s Flock House on wheels has 4 walls that collapse to fold into the base of the trailer.

The top has windows used with the trailer or when assembling the Flock House.

The folded trailer loaded with supplies and essentials.

The top lashed down like canvas to secure supplies and essentials on the trailer.

Unload and raise the sides to form the Flock House structure.

Roof added to top of Flock House. Integrate windows and door into the side walls.