Para[site] 2003

Parasite is a housing solution that temporarily reclaims urban infill sites in a forsaken city. Parasite is a portable, self-contained, and self-erecting unit able to quickly affix itself onto once occupied structures to expend the underutilized resources of the host site. The housing is installed on a tower crane, which during habitation becomes the main circulation for the home. Individual housing pods are raised unto the crane body, and then slid horizontally to be placed as other units are installed. Parasite is extensible allowing for single, person to multiple family housing in the same site. Although considered a temporal the engagement between home and host-site, the dwelling can vary in duration from few days to several years. The engagement of site and parasite creates no additional damage to the natural landscape to foster the urban reclamation process. When it is time to move parasite releases itself form the site in a discrete manor through means of folding, and compressing.