The winners of the un/SHELTERED: Toronto Design Challenge have been announced.Last year, Maytree, a foundation committed to advancing systemic solutions to poverty, and West End Phoenix, a local periodical community newspaper for Torontos west end, launched un/SHELTERED: Toronto Design Challenge, a competition which sought out innovative designs for people who were homeless and unsheltered.Through the challenge, Maytree and West End Phoenix hoped to find solutions that were practical, feasible, and respected every persons human dignity and their fundamental human right to adequate housing.At the time of the competitions launch, Maytree noted that the challenge wasnt necessarily intended to address the citys overall affordable housing needs, but instead, meant to ask entrants to think practically, and to develop an immediate, humanitarian response for people who are unhoused.We need new ideas and new solutions as our housing systems are clearly not working and our emergency shelter system is failing the people who have the most urgent needs, reads Maytrees website.Left to right: Elizabeth McIsaac (Maytree), Hunter Kauremszky, Peter Fennell, Robbie Suehiro, Karolina Grujic, Dave Bidini (West End Phoenix), and Henry Schilthuis.The response to the challenge was inspiring, says Maytree, with entries ranging in physical form, proposed location, and features to meet peoples varying needs. Among all the entries, four stood out for their practicality, creativity, and commitment to upholding human dignity.The winner of the competition was the Shell, designed by Karolina Grujic and Robbie Suehiro.The ShellThe Shell, designed by Karolina Grujic and Robbie Suehiro.These modular, modified shipping containers are designed for single or double occupancy and can be clustered around a communal kitchen, washroom, and laundry facility, and staffed around the clock. This solution offers flexibility and scalability.The Shell was designed by Robbie Suehiro, an architectural designer with more than 10 years of experience in the construction industry and Karolina Grujic,a LEED- and WELL- accredited Toronto-based architect and mentor.As ARKs design team, they have successfully worked together on design challenges for more than eight years.The three finalists include the following.Pallet Communities in Parking GaragesPallet Communities in Parking Garages by Peter Fennell.This concept uses recycled wooden pallets to create shelters in underused indoor parking garages. The strong structures provide weather protection, and existing utilities can be used to set up washroom facilities. A modular, pre-fabricated design keeps the cost of these shelters low.The designer, Peter Fennell,is an engineer based in New York who studied mechanical engineering and manufacturing at the University of Mississippi. He currently works for the construction company Turner, exploring opportunities for modularity in commercial buildings.Portable Steel CabinsPortable Steel Cabins by Henry Schilthuis, Emma Cubitt, and Dan Postma.This proposal calls for rapidly deployable steel sleep cabins, designed for year-round comfort, that can be delivered and installed in just six weeks. Sleep cabins would be clustered around a central community house with washrooms, kitchen, laundry and meeting space.The designers include Henry Schilthuis of Schilthuis Construction, who brings more than 75 years of experience to diverse projects across Ontario, Emma Cubitt of Invizij Architects, an award-winning firm that embraces the responsibility of designers to create sustainable communities, and Dan Postma of Future Storage, who works in the moving and storage space with a focus on community support.Village in a BoxVillage in a Box by Hunter Kauremszky, Jake Kroft, and Jake Levy.In this design, off-the-grid shelters feature built-in greenhouse walls that enable residents to grow their own food, fostering self-sustaining communities.The designers include Hunter Kauremszky, a graduate student studying architecture in Toronto, whose research focuses on the intersection between agriculture and living in urban settings; Jake Kroft, who is currently pursuing dual master of Architecture and Landscape Architecture degrees at UBC and holds a bachelor of Architectural Science from TMU and an advanced diploma in Architectural Technology from Fanshawe College; and Jake Levy, who is pursuing a bachelors degree in Architectural Science at TMU.The post Winners announced for un/SHELTERED design challenge appeared first on Canadian Architect.