2015 AIA Pop-up Competition – A Safe Place
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
As a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), we decided to put together a design called Pallet Refuge. This was for the 2015 Pop-up Competition they hold annually. However, we never submitted it.
We frequently participate in design Competitions each year. We do this to explore ideas, improve efficiency, and expand the knowledge of what architecture could be.
Key Takeaways
- The article discusses the 2015 AIA Pop-up Competition and the design concept called Pallet Refuge.
- Pallet Refuge is a compact dwelling made from salvaged wooden pallets, offering thermal comfort and security.
- The design allows for versatility, converting from sleeping quarters to social spaces with the use of brackets and hinges.
- The authors participate in competitions to foster creativity and improve architectural services for clients.
Table of Contents
It is the challenge of providing a design solution within a limited timeframe conveyed in a clear manner. This challenge enables us to continue to enhance our Services for our clients.
Design Concept
Pallet Refuge is a flexible and compact dwelling unit assembled from salvaged wooden pallets. It is designed to provide a secured means of shelter with thermal comfort control.
The unit is convertible from a boxed in sleeping quarter to an open resting space for personal use.
The pallets can also be transformed through the use of brackets, hinges, sliding tracks, and scissor lifts. They can become a semiprivate table for socializing or bar height public seating.
Q&A – Pop-up Competition
It is a high-intensity design contest, typically open to young architects and students, focused on small-scale temporary installations or “pavilions”. Unlike traditional competitions for permanent buildings, pop-up challenges prioritize rapid ideation and buildable, mobile, or modular prototypes that can be realized and publicized quickly to stimulate public debate.
They allow designers to bypass standard bureaucratic delays and experiment with “hypothetical” premises or unconventional materials without the high risk of a permanent project.
Q&A – Homelessness in America
As of early 2025/2026, homelessness continues an upward trend, having risen over 30% since 2022. A significant factor is that nearly 40%–60% of people experiencing homelessness are employed, but cannot afford rent due to a massive deficit in affordable housing—only 37 homes are available for every 100 extremely low-income renters.
Hostile architecture includes designs like retractable spikes, fenced grate covers, and boulders under bridges specifically intended to prevent the unhoused from resting in public spaces. In 2026, these designs are under heavy scrutiny, with legal arguments positing they may violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by hindering access for all vulnerable populations.
Architects are moving toward Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) and modular solutions rather than simple emergency shelters. Key 2026 strategies include:
Adaptive Resiliency Centers: Projects like Architecture at Zero 2026 focus on “La Plaza” designs—multi-functional community centers that serve as cultural venues year-round but transform into emergency operations and respite centers during crises.
3D-Printed & Flat-Pack Pods: Creative, low-cost “sleeping pods” or 3D-printed homes that allow for rapid scaling of transitional housing.
Unconventional Site Usage: Proposed designs include suspended living pods on bridges or transforming underutilized car parks into communal housing hubs.
Neil has over 20 years’ experience on a range of large (15,000 sf) and small (500 sf) residential, non-profit, and commercial projects with a small business focus. He has two kids with his wife, Victoria, and loves family time camping, hiking, and traveling. While he grew up in New England, Neil is a diehard Buffalo Bills fan!
