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This City In Germany Has Sleeping Pods To Protect The Homeless From The Cold At Night

This City In Germany Has Sleeping Pods To Protect The Homeless From The Cold At Night

Interview
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Persistent social issues require innovative designs and out-of-the-box thinking to solve. Or, in this particular case, it’s literally inside-the-box thinking that’s helping the homeless in one South German city.

The city of Ulm launched a creative program to help the homeless find emergency shelter at night and 6 entrepreneurs and technical experts rose to the challenge. They created a series of sleeping capsules, or ‘nests,’ that are perfect for those who are very reluctant to go to traditional shelters. The capsules allow the homeless to get some sleep, as well as to stay warm in winter when it’s incredibly dangerous to be outside. The pods can fit up to two people and can also be locked, ensuring full safety.

However, the project is still in its pilot phase—tests are still being conducted and development is still underway. Check out the photos from the Ulmer Nest project below. Let us know what you think about this initiative, dear Pandas, and share how your cities are helping the homeless in the comment section.

Bored Panda reached out to the Ulmer Nest team and Florian, one of its members, was kind enough to go into more detail about the project, its roots, and future. Scroll down for the full interview.

More info: UlmerNest.de | Facebook

These futuristic-looking pods in the German city of Ulm are emergency shelters for the homeless to sleep in during the winter months

Image credits: ulmernest

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Image credits: ulmernest

Florian, from the Ulmer Nest team, clarified that, strictly speaking, they didn’t create the project at all—someone else did. “We initially created sort of a ‘think tank’/’creative lab’ project as a team here in Ulm with the (maybe a little bit bold) idea that everyone can drop off their respective problem, whatever it may be, for us to solve it—basically we wanted to challenge ourselves a little bit, being a so far decently successful interdisciplinary team of six designers and technologists,” he explained.

“Before that, we chose some experts whose task was to decide which of the submitted problems we actually would have to work on, for 48 hours each. And then, the city of Ulm basically submitted their ‘problem’ which was something along the lines of, ‘We’ve got homeless people who can’t go to shelters, and we don’t want them to freeze to death—can you do something about this?’ And our experts selected this as a task for us to work on.”

Image credits: ulmernest

Image credits: ulmernest

“This was on a Thursday morning, at 8 am. By Friday evening, the basic concept of the Nests was born, a prototype showing off shape, functionality, and processes was there, even including a VR prototype to be able to experience what it feels like to be in one of the capsules—and we never changed anything substantial all of that later,” Florian told us what happened a couple of years ago.

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He admitted that the initial vision went through a lot of “refinement, development, and testing” until it was ready to be tested “in the field” last winter. Florian shared with us the very first “Friday-evening” prototype which can be seen here on Instagram and here on Vimeo. The ‘nests’ are in the second year of being used and tested in Ulm and there’s still lots of improvement that’s being done.

Image credits: ulmernest

The shelters are meant to be used only in emergencies and are not an alternative to regular housing

Image credits: ulmernest

“For this winter, we modified details of our door in an effort to improve usability both for the people sleeping in the Nests and the Social Workers checking in on them. Also, we spent a good deal of time improving insulation and climate management, to be able to keep humidity and temperature at the best possible levels while operating on a limited budget of energy. Related to this, we also improved the connected-ness of the Nests by integrating them into the Ulm city’s own wireless IoT network,” the Ulmer Nest team member shared the high-tech details of the capsules.

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Image credits: ulmernest

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Image credits: ulmernest

Currently, the team is evaluating different future directions that they could take their prototype in. “We are still operating on a small-scale prototype level, and are looking into finding possible prospective user (cities) and ways of manufacturing bigger numbers of the Nests if there’s sufficient demand for it,” he said.

The ‘nests’ are still in their prototype phase and are continuously being developed by the entrepreneurs and design experts of Ulm

Image credits: ulmernest

Image credits: ulmernest

Florian revealed to Bored Panda that the citizens of Ulm have received the project in a very positive manner. “We’ve even seen some effects that we didn’t dream of, like neighbors providing the overnight guests with hot tea in the morning and such. Also, city officials were always very supportive and positive about the project, which helped us a lot. And then there’s a lot of those small moments when working on the Nests out in the city, and people come up to say thank you (homeless and not homeless alike). That also means a lot actually,” he shared.

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“Of course, there also has been occasional criticism, but mostly from the right-wing populism side, trying to set people in need against each other. We try to ignore that as much as possible, as there’s no common ground to argue on.”

Image credits: ulmernest

Image credits: ulmernest

Life might be hard (far harder for some of us than others), but it’s hardly all doom and gloom. Creative people like the entrepreneurs in Ulm are putting their heads together to come up with solutions to serious problems every single day. The initiative in Ulm, a city of over 126k inhabitants, is the perfect example of practical and socially conscious design and, frankly, it’s a small silver lining that gives hope for the future.

Image credits: ulmernest

Image credits: ulmernest

Some homeless people might not want to stay at regular shelters because of psychological reasons or because pets like dogs aren’t allowed inside. So the ‘nests’ are a perfect alternative.

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The only downside is that there’s a limited number of them and that they’re put up only during winter. However, the designers explained that it’s not supposed to be an alternative living space. Rather, it’s a place to sleep during an emergency so that the homeless don’t get frostbite.

You’ll find the pods in Ulm only in winter when there’s a high chance that some homeless people can get frostbite

Image credits: ulmernest

Image credits: ulmernest

The Ulmer Nest project was started up at the request of the city of Ulm as part of their temporary problem-solving initiative “Wilhelmsbüro” in 2018. The team behind the project to help the homeless consisted of product and interface designers, as well as software and hardware developers.

Image credits: ulmernest

Image credits: ulmernest

Each ‘nest’ is still assembled by hand and their current cost is higher than it will be once the prototypes are done being improved. The pods are well-insulated, have solar panels installed in them, and even have enough space for luggage and a pet. The ‘nests’ are professionally cleaned after use to ensure that acceptable hygiene standards are maintained.

Some people still believe that the Ulmer Nests are an art project, but, even though they look great, they have a real, practical use that saves lives.

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k8cassity avatar
Kathy Cassity
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There was time time when my son could have used this when he git stuck in Northern California, with no money and nowhere to stay. He wouldn't let us know his circumstances out of embarrassment, so he ended up sleeping on a park bench in the snow. This would have been such a blessing.

lordmysticlaw avatar
Lord Mysticlaw
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love the idea of this, and the fact that one of the things they considered is that a homeless person can't go to a smelter with a dog almost made me cry. But I'd absolutely be worried about people abusing it. Maybe that's just about where I am. I feel like in South Africa the nests would be stolen and sold, or become permanent residences.

s-makwiatkowska avatar
maya P.K
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ok random thing so i read this a few months back and then i randomly ha a dream that i lived in one of these?

msintegrity avatar
Laura MacNeil
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It can be done, but nothing is free, there needs to be a strict level of conduct to acquire these places. You can't just place one of these in any area of the globe. Persons with mental health issues or drug additions or criminal records can't be placed just anywhere. There are children to consider who play in these neighborhoods. Also the security of getting out of one only to be mobbed by others who want to use it. The scene could become dangerous for the patron using the shelter. Firstly you have to group persons according to issues, then you have to develop a strong co-op of rules and regulations. Then you have to find one of them to lead. Then you have to reinstate the laws and regulations. For some a way to become healthier, for others a progressive downhill slide of useful drug abuse. How to enforce these laws are easier now with CCT and drones, but it will depend on the co-operative community.

senojbr avatar
Richard Jones
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many complications with the use of these. Placement will attract users that may not be desirable around parks or other public spaces. Nearby toilet facilities? People "staking" out their pod each night. Cost of cleaning. It's a feel-good project that doesn't address the issue. Homelessness is mostly about mental health problems and drug addiction, not shelter.

Load More Replies...
ecramer144 avatar
Ravenwolf
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know this might get downvoted into oblivain, but what if they let the pods stay there year-round? Wouldn't that help people that need a better place to stay than a bench, regardless of the temp?

el_dee avatar
El Dee
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where I'm from we've never had a big homeless problem. If you do become homeless you can either stay in a room at the local shelter or they'll find a temporary place for you. A certain amount are set aside for those fleeing domestic violence and some places were let from private landlords to meet demand, these have been handed back as our homeless problem has dropped drastically. Most people are there short term until getting accommodation from a housing association. I found myself in this situation after splitting with my ex, thank God we have it so good here..

johannapreiszner avatar
Hanni
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm sorry, but realistically, these are going to be vandalized almost immediately, unless there is police present.

sicks6six avatar
SICKS6SIX
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the name BORED-PANDA is an unimaginative name and a more thought should have been used as a brand name, X-Ray Spex was one of the best band names ever,

sicks6six avatar
SICKS6SIX
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

typical german over-engineering, good idea but made by someone who has a home to live in and used their ideals as the blueprint, when I was kid (mid-1960s) I lived near a fiberglass factory (the new wonder material) and they made geocentric cubes for playgrounds that locked together and could be expanded sideways up/down (you get the idea) no moving parts, nothing to break, nothing to steal, they kept them in the stockyard and in winter we used them as shelters, they were the best solution for a homeless person I've seen, they must have been very cheap to make, one fiberglass pressing, if they were to be used for winter shelters insulating them would be very easy, double skin filled with expanding insulating foam, solar panel for phone charging and perhaps low heating to keep above freezing, add body heat and no doubt a night light candle for cooking up on and freezing to death shouldn't happen, hopefully. . .well done German city of Ulm for doing something positive.

anj avatar
Anja Schmidt
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

inside of the citycentres is not as dangerious than under bridges in the suburbs ... city centres are warmer and some banks and post offices leave their doors open for foyers with ATM

anj avatar
Anja Schmidt
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I´d prefer see the cities working on providing appartments for homeless, because homeless don´t get jobs without adress.

Load More Replies...
kittyfreya1 avatar
KitKatss
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omg, what if someone got locked in there? It's not very realistic but if some hooligans were to come along and see a homeless person sleeping in the pod, they might try and lock them in if they're really mean, that would be absolutely horrible

kevinperry_1 avatar
okpkpkp
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Putting up shelters in winter and then taking them away in winter sounds pretty heartless.

yvette_m_desmarais avatar
copper-fractions avatar
Tiny Dynamine
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People like you make comments like this without understanding the whole situation. Obviously it's not as easy as giving people houses. A lot of homeless people don't feel safe in shelters because of others who are a danger to them. Many have mental health problems that require more support for them to be able to take care of themselves. There's a lot more, too, but it would be useful if you found out about it first.

Load More Replies...
truthmonster00 avatar
Truth Monster
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Its a good idea but its got some problems. Namely, it doesn't have a lock. Without one, it leaves particularly female homeless in a precarious position where she can be sleeping inside and a stranger can open it from the outside.

gensaccs avatar
Gëë Bëë
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It states clearly at the beginning of the post that they have a locking mechanism. Would you really think this is not something the designer would see as essential?

Load More Replies...
k8cassity avatar
Kathy Cassity
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There was time time when my son could have used this when he git stuck in Northern California, with no money and nowhere to stay. He wouldn't let us know his circumstances out of embarrassment, so he ended up sleeping on a park bench in the snow. This would have been such a blessing.

lordmysticlaw avatar
Lord Mysticlaw
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love the idea of this, and the fact that one of the things they considered is that a homeless person can't go to a smelter with a dog almost made me cry. But I'd absolutely be worried about people abusing it. Maybe that's just about where I am. I feel like in South Africa the nests would be stolen and sold, or become permanent residences.

s-makwiatkowska avatar
maya P.K
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ok random thing so i read this a few months back and then i randomly ha a dream that i lived in one of these?

msintegrity avatar
Laura MacNeil
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It can be done, but nothing is free, there needs to be a strict level of conduct to acquire these places. You can't just place one of these in any area of the globe. Persons with mental health issues or drug additions or criminal records can't be placed just anywhere. There are children to consider who play in these neighborhoods. Also the security of getting out of one only to be mobbed by others who want to use it. The scene could become dangerous for the patron using the shelter. Firstly you have to group persons according to issues, then you have to develop a strong co-op of rules and regulations. Then you have to find one of them to lead. Then you have to reinstate the laws and regulations. For some a way to become healthier, for others a progressive downhill slide of useful drug abuse. How to enforce these laws are easier now with CCT and drones, but it will depend on the co-operative community.

senojbr avatar
Richard Jones
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many complications with the use of these. Placement will attract users that may not be desirable around parks or other public spaces. Nearby toilet facilities? People "staking" out their pod each night. Cost of cleaning. It's a feel-good project that doesn't address the issue. Homelessness is mostly about mental health problems and drug addiction, not shelter.

Load More Replies...
ecramer144 avatar
Ravenwolf
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know this might get downvoted into oblivain, but what if they let the pods stay there year-round? Wouldn't that help people that need a better place to stay than a bench, regardless of the temp?

el_dee avatar
El Dee
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where I'm from we've never had a big homeless problem. If you do become homeless you can either stay in a room at the local shelter or they'll find a temporary place for you. A certain amount are set aside for those fleeing domestic violence and some places were let from private landlords to meet demand, these have been handed back as our homeless problem has dropped drastically. Most people are there short term until getting accommodation from a housing association. I found myself in this situation after splitting with my ex, thank God we have it so good here..

johannapreiszner avatar
Hanni
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm sorry, but realistically, these are going to be vandalized almost immediately, unless there is police present.

sicks6six avatar
SICKS6SIX
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the name BORED-PANDA is an unimaginative name and a more thought should have been used as a brand name, X-Ray Spex was one of the best band names ever,

sicks6six avatar
SICKS6SIX
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

typical german over-engineering, good idea but made by someone who has a home to live in and used their ideals as the blueprint, when I was kid (mid-1960s) I lived near a fiberglass factory (the new wonder material) and they made geocentric cubes for playgrounds that locked together and could be expanded sideways up/down (you get the idea) no moving parts, nothing to break, nothing to steal, they kept them in the stockyard and in winter we used them as shelters, they were the best solution for a homeless person I've seen, they must have been very cheap to make, one fiberglass pressing, if they were to be used for winter shelters insulating them would be very easy, double skin filled with expanding insulating foam, solar panel for phone charging and perhaps low heating to keep above freezing, add body heat and no doubt a night light candle for cooking up on and freezing to death shouldn't happen, hopefully. . .well done German city of Ulm for doing something positive.

anj avatar
Anja Schmidt
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

inside of the citycentres is not as dangerious than under bridges in the suburbs ... city centres are warmer and some banks and post offices leave their doors open for foyers with ATM

anj avatar
Anja Schmidt
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I´d prefer see the cities working on providing appartments for homeless, because homeless don´t get jobs without adress.

Load More Replies...
kittyfreya1 avatar
KitKatss
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omg, what if someone got locked in there? It's not very realistic but if some hooligans were to come along and see a homeless person sleeping in the pod, they might try and lock them in if they're really mean, that would be absolutely horrible

kevinperry_1 avatar
okpkpkp
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Putting up shelters in winter and then taking them away in winter sounds pretty heartless.

yvette_m_desmarais avatar
copper-fractions avatar
Tiny Dynamine
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People like you make comments like this without understanding the whole situation. Obviously it's not as easy as giving people houses. A lot of homeless people don't feel safe in shelters because of others who are a danger to them. Many have mental health problems that require more support for them to be able to take care of themselves. There's a lot more, too, but it would be useful if you found out about it first.

Load More Replies...
truthmonster00 avatar
Truth Monster
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Its a good idea but its got some problems. Namely, it doesn't have a lock. Without one, it leaves particularly female homeless in a precarious position where she can be sleeping inside and a stranger can open it from the outside.

gensaccs avatar
Gëë Bëë
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It states clearly at the beginning of the post that they have a locking mechanism. Would you really think this is not something the designer would see as essential?

Load More Replies...
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