ITP Thesis Archive 2025

Project Description

Life can seem like it’s attacking you on all fronts and it’s up to you to do something about it. But with that responsibility, guilt can arise if you dare stall, avoid, or detach. Shelter from the storm challenges the societal pressure to act fast by asking: what if we could make the world a better place by simply resting?


I propose that the climate crisis is a direct consequence of moving too quickly, and the only way to respond and adapt to this chaos is to slow down and reconnect with the natural environment. Constructed almost entirely of found and upcycled materials, the installation uses human-made items to remind us of how we can exist in balance.


The biophilic design of the zome structure mimics pine cone patterns and the helices of DNA. Its trapezoidal panels made of found cardboard provide a protective space akin to camping, which mutes outside sounds and light. The curtained entrance welcomes the user with a soft carpet and stool for removing shoes, as they transition mentally and physically from the outer world.


The childlike experience of crawling into a fort begins a rejuvenation process, in suspension from the realities of adult responsibility. A soft breathing sound from a potted plant is triggered in real-time by the plant's respiration as measured through capacitive sensing, inviting the user to breathe together. Laying down on the squishy chaise, made of upcycled couch cushions and soft pink fabric, triggers the stars up above which twinkle in response to the user's presence. The blanket, hand knit from cut-up unsold fast fashion items, lets the user know they are protected and cared for.


The reality the user faces upon exiting is juxtaposed with the soft, quiet environment they left, but the feeling of rest lingers.

Technical Details

Sensors: OpenPIR, FSR, Capacitive
Software: Fusion 360, Blender, Arduino IDE, p5
Materials: (all found or upcycled) cardboard, fabric, fast-fashion unsold clothing items, couch cushions, memory foam, packing foam, plant, LED string, wood reclaimed from furniture

Research/Context

The pressure to always be doing more and going faster is inescapable in New York City. As an Alaskan, ex-biologist, and occasional farmer I see that this pressure creates a myriad of unintentional consequences because there is no time to reach equilibrium with our environment. As we drain natural resources faster than they can possibly regenerate, we lurch ourselves and the planet towards a terrifying future within which we may not be able to survive. Already climate disasters have increased 600% since the 1980s and millions of people are displaced every year.

We are in a state of climate chaos, but in the wake of disaster we have a chance to rebuild differently. Prioritizing physical survival may work short-term, but the way we respond and heal affects our preparedness for the next disaster. First there must be rest, before there can be resilience.