For the Love of People November 14, 2022

This empathic design solution gives Angelenos without a home a dignified place to sleep

Photo of a modular bed unit designed for homeless shelters

In 2020 alone, over 66,000 people in Los Angeles County experienced homelessness—a number that’s been steadily on the rise and compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ward Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), a local nonprofit focused on housing affordability, job creation, and community-building, set out to help. Its goal was to provide a humane sheltering solution to alleviate some of the hardships of homelessness, like lack of privacy and storage, physical and emotional discomfort, and forced separation from beloved pets.

Photo of architect at a whiteboard designing DOME, a modular, stackable sleeping unit.

With DOME, Perkins&Will designer Yan Krymsky aimed to alleviate a multitude of stresses on homeless shelters and their occupants.

By summer 2022, WEDC’s newest interim housing facility—King Solomon Village—was complete. What makes this shelter different is what’s inside: 100 installations of DOME, a new modular, stackable sleeping unit that features a 6-foot privacy wall, lockable storage, an outlet and USB port, and an optional canopy for enhanced privacy.

Designed by Perkins&Will specifically for interim and emergency housing, and manufactured by Shield, DOME adds comfort and dignity to the lives of Angelenos living without a permanent home. It’s the first of its kind to be installed in any shelter in the U.S.

“We really did design DOME with care and love, because we saw with our own eyes how unlivable shelter conditions often are,” says Yan Krymsky, one of the bed’s designers. “WEDC’s King Solomon Village is revolutionizing the shelter experience by humanizing it. We’re proud to call them our partners.”

Read this essay: A designer reflects on creating DOME.

Photo showing modular temporary indoor shelter with bed and lockable storage

DOME is designed to accommodate large orders, such as the 100 units that were installed at King Solomon Village this past summer.

The pod’s curved shape lends a softness to the structure that makes it more appealing for potential occupants.

The 6-foot privacy wall that backs the unit offers more dignity than typical homeless shelter bed options.

The end result is a sleeping unit that feels catered more to the person using it.

It also offers its occupant ample personal storage space via a closet with shelving and a clothing rack, as well as extra storage above.

The locking mechanism on the closet ensures privacy and security for one’s possessions.

DOME’s compact structure ensures many of them can be included in a single area or room without sacrificing the dignity it offers those sleeping in the shelter.

At King’s Solomon Village, the units have been a significant upgrade to the sleeping space.

“Discovering DOME played a key role in our decision to press forward with the new shelter. It’s our hope that it sets a precedent.”

Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker, WEDC President

While some of the sleeping unit’s materials changed in response to budgetary constraints—interim housing facilities have severely limited financial resources—the version of the DOME beds installed at King Solomon Village are still a major upgrade to standard shelter sleeping conditions. By all accounts, they have already provided an enhanced quality of life for King Solomon’s temporary residents.

Interested in having DOME installed in your local shelter? Visit www.domeunit.com.