Gene Daniels’ eHome Structures Are Inspired by Swedish, Low-Tech Ready-To-Assemble Furniture
Gene Daniels is graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (Dual Major in General Fine Arts and Interior Architecture) in 1989. He subsequently completed his Masters Degree in Architecture from Morgan State University in 1994. At present, he is completing a Ph. D. from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland.
For seven years, Gene Daniels has served as a Professor in the Environmental Design, Interior Architecture, and Foundation Departments at the Maryland Institute College of Art. He also served the school in an administrative capacity as the Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admission. At present, he manages his own design and consulting practice (Studio D) in Halifax. Here, he works with engineers, architects, artists, contractors, and manufacturers to achieve the best design team for his clients.
His research involves the development of low-cost, self-built modular structures that provide safe and secure housing for its users. This research journey started 14 years ago in Baltimore where as an Architect, he became intrigued with the idea of linking the world of social needs — in particular, homelessness — with the world of design. His current research based projects include eHome modular habitats for victims of natural disasters and mobile Data CAVE virtual imaging environments. The goal of the eHome project is to develope low-cost, self-built modular structures that provide safe and secure housing for its users. It was designed with simplicity in mind, to facilitate rapid deployment, yet to be flexible and durable. eHome structures are inspired by Swedish, low-tech ready-to-assemble furniture. The wall and roof panels have a hollow-core chamber inside which allows them to be insulated using blown-in cellulose fiber on site. The wall system are interchangeable and sleeping and eating surfaces transform into a variety of configurations to suit diverse needs of users.
Inspired by this innovative technology and it’s research potential, Daniels initiated discussions with one of the leading organizations in applied research innovation, CASALA (Center for Affective Solutions for Ambient Living Awareness). CASALA was established in 2009 by the Netwell Centre (Netwell) and the Software Technology Research Centre (SToRC) within the Dundalk Institute of Technology with seed funding from Enterprise Ireland under the Applied Research Enhancement (ARE) program. Over the past year Gene Daniels has worked closely with researchers and technicians to assemble a full-scale, 3D model of the eHome shelter utilizing cutting edge technology found within several ACEnet Data Cave labs. The Data Cave is a virtual reality environment that was designed to allow researchers to visualize graphic representations of phenomena based on scientific calculations. Using this technology, Daniels was able to walk into, around and manipulate a three-dimensional projection of the shelter and all of its components. Special motion tracking systems within electronic goggles monitored his location as he moved through the environment. Cameras adjusted the placement of the three-dimensional projections so it truly felt as though he was moving into and around the structure. This technology has allowed him to test and refine the properties of the eHome structures for future, full-scale prototyping. In addition, it’s anticipated that replication of this virtual technology will provide potential users around the world with similar on site assembly/tutorial environments.
