Rammed Earth Architecture: Focus on Sustainability, Economic and Social Mobility, and Reintegration

Hello! I'm Jiexi(Jesse), a rising senior in high school. I have been using Autodesk software for years, being first introduced to the simple but powerful tool of Tinkercad in middle school. This year marks my 2nd year competing in instructable competitions and I am thrilled to be a part of this community! Completing a large project and writing an instructable on the topic last year has helped me learn a lot not only about Autodesk software for architecture but also on writing, research, and planning. It has been so beneficial and fun that I am entering the contest again this year

Revit

Revit is a powerful Building Information Modeling software that is used by professionals in architecture, engineering, and construction. Revit has both 2d and 3d capabilities and enables seamless 3d modeling and documentation. For students, Revit is available free of charge.

Enscape

Enscape is a real-time rendering engine for Building Information Modeling software such as Revit, Sketchup, and others. Typically, Enscape is not offered at a discounted price for students. However, they offer a 30-day trial for new users. Please note that Enscape is not a necessary component of this project and was only used for imaging and rendering purposes.

3D Printer (Your Choice)

To bring your vision to life, one of the easiest and most viable options is through a 3D printer. Although not necessary, it is always good to have physical prototypes for visual architecture. Additionally, building physical models allows you to pinpoint any potential errors to consider for actual construction. For this project, a Bambu Lab A1 3D Printer was used. Other options also include Creality, Prusa, or Formlabs.

In 2024, homelessness in the United States reached record highs, with over 750,000 individuals reported as homeless on any given night. Among these are around a quarter million unsheltered and 150,000 children [1]. Despite being a first-world country at the forefront of the global economy, the U.S. alone has nearly a quarter of households living paycheck to paycheck–that is, millions with little real leverage over their financial situation and, thereby, individuals who are at risk of homelessness [2]. Alarmingly, this percentage has continued to increase over the years and disproportionally affects lower-income households and certain demographics [1], proving a fundamental truth: homelessness runs deep. Homelessness is not the unlucky individual, the lazy person, or even the one who makes bad decisions. Instead, it is often a myriad of compounding factors from the previous generation, if not generations, that carry forth to the present, socioeconomic segregation of neighborhoods, and inadequate relief and assistance programs from the government. These factors keep individuals in poverty and, correspondingly, increase the prevalence and risk of homelessness. Thus, to truly address the rampant homelessness problem in the U.S., there is a need to invest in long-term, systemic solutions that solve the roots of homelessness rather than repeatedly offering short-term alternatives. One of the major areas to focus on is providing more funding for immediate housing and, as a secondary goal, integrating the homeless within the community. These initiatives ensure that the homeless are starting life again with a good foundation and can escape from many of their previous struggles.

One of the main causes of homelessness is the exorbitant, ever-increasing, and unavoidable costs of living. In particular, housing costs are often the most significant burden. The national trend of rising housing prices leads to massive hurdles in social mobility for many and results in a perpetual cycle of poverty and renting [3]. To illustrate the extent of the problem, findings suggest that housing inadequacy not only affects low-income households but also many middle-class households [4]. Furthermore, more than 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, and 25% of renters spend more than 50% [5]. With the population spending so much of their income on housing, which, it should be noted, they do not even own, it is no wonder that homelessness is increasing. With such unbalanced finances, it can be reasonably argued that a single unfortunate event could cause many of these individuals to become unable to pay rent. What’s worse is that even if they can delay rent, this setback will likely leave them with only worsening conditions. Struggling renters are faced with financial and housing instability and, thereby, also health instability [5]. Because renters are so worried about their financial situation and housing, they have less money and are forced to make hard decisions over daily necessities, nutritious foods, health care, and managing health conditions [6], prolonging the hardship and leaving them more susceptible and vulnerable to unfortunate events.

The poor stay poor. Those who are exposed to generational poverty have fewer opportunities in life due to their poor conditions and, thereby, experience higher levels of homelessness [3]. In a free market economy, this fact, to a great extent, is inevitable. In competition, there are inherently victors and losers, and what makes the U.S. competitive scene of “life” so unfair is that everyone starts at vastly different points. The “winners” in life are often those who were given opportunities and support and have the ability to fail. All of this is strongly linked to wealth. Unlike those in poverty, wealthier individuals can easily bounce back from unforeseen events and are also given more opportunities in life, providing them with generally higher accumulated wealth and prospects [6]. Intergenerational poverty leads to less access and opportunities in education, healthcare, and nutrition, severely reducing crucial safety nets such as emergency funds and savings and limiting the accumulation of wealth [6]. In education, poor housing conditions are linked with lower educational achievements, with individuals being less likely to graduate from high school and having lower educational attainment [4]. These conditions weigh individuals down in life, leading to overall lower life achievements and, thereby, continuing poverty and homelessness.

While poor-quality housing may be inexpensive in the short term, it can quickly lead to expensive long-term consequences. Lead paint, mold, and unsanitary living conditions can lead to severe chronic health conditions such as asthma, brain injuries, and disabilities [5]. Worryingly, around 24 million homes in the U.S. have lead paint hazards, harmful chemicals in homes are connected to 21,000 lung cancer deaths, and 20-30% of asthma cases were directly linked to poor housing conditions [5]. There are also increased chances of trips and falls that can lead to injuries or death. Over the years, more than 6 million seniors have reported being injured by home-related injuries [5]. Additionally, people in poverty often have trouble receiving adequate healthcare, which, in turn, could severely impact their employment prospects [6]. Beyond physical damages, living in poor housing conditions also affects people mentally. Poor housing conditions have been attributed to inducing stress in both children and adults. Furthermore, those in poor housing also have higher likelihoods of depression and poor social, physical, psychological, and behavioral development, which is especially prevalent in young children [5].

Being homeless exposes many to disease. However, while in homelessness and poverty, many have difficulty treating chronic health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease [5]. This factor is detrimental to the homeless population as, on average, they have higher medical costs than the average person, as they are often using the emergency room as their primary source of health care [5]. Homelessness can also worsen mental health and lead many to stray from treatment plans due to high costs, only worsening issues, and leading to perpetual homelessness [6]. All of these factors contribute to the homeless population, living on average 30 years less than the average American [9].

Although homelessness could affect anyone, certain demographics and groups disproportionately experience poverty and homelessness. In particular, demographics such as Native Americans and African Americans are overrepresented in the homelessness problem [7]. African Americans compose 40% of those homeless while only being 13% of the population, and Native Americans compose 2.8% of those homeless while only being 1% of the population [7]. Those in poverty also disproportionately experience poor housing conditions. Around 45% of inadequate housing is held by lower-income households [4]. The underlying causes of these statistics are varied, but many contribute to them continued discrimination in various sectors, lack of accessible housing, and intergenerational poverty. In over two hundred interviews, many responded that there was a “lack of access to safe, decent, and truly affordable housing” and cited experiencing discrimination when finding jobs and housing [7]. Furthermore, a study examining over 150,000 individuals found that the rate of homelessness is significantly higher in Black/African American and Native Americans than those in poverty, implying that poverty is not the only cause of homelessness [7].

In the U.S., although individuals in cities should have more adequate housing due to their high populations and, therefore, resources, many do not [4]. Areas of higher population, economic inequality, and lower housing affordability experience greater housing inequality, leading to poor health, lower levels of happiness, increased crime, and economic segregation in certain areas [4]. These factors lead to poverty being concentrated. Many suffering from housing instability also live in neighborhoods that often have higher disease and crime rates [5], all contributing to prolonged and likelihood of homelessness.

Although there are many governmental assistance programs, the current relief offered by the government and many federally associated humanitarian organizations are short-term and temporary bandages. Yes, the shelters, soup kitchens, food drives, and other services provide vital assistance to hundreds of thousands. But, at the end of the day, they are still short-term solutions. Shelters do not provide permanent or even consistent settlements, and soup kitchens and food drives lack food security and resources.

Government housing programs also crucially need more resources to help households struggling to afford housing. In fact, 17 million (75%) who are eligible for federal rental assistance do not receive it due to limited funding [5]. Additionally, although there are many programs available providing reduced-cost healthcare, many are unable to fully utilize the programs as their main concern and hurdle is still housing [5]. Without housing, there is a fundamental lack of stability.

To solve the homelessness problem, Finland changed to a direct approach, providing the homeless with housing first rather than awarding it later when they have changed “their life around.” In Finland, this approach has been proven extremely successful, and it is one of the few European countries to have a declining percentage of homelessness [8]. The homeless were provided rental apartments and units built from shelters and constructed on land bought by the government [8]. By moving to or living in a better neighborhood, people could receive better health conditions by reducing exposure to previous contaminants. According to Bailey, living in wealthier neighborhoods positively influences adults' and children's mental and physical health [5].

What makes Finland’s program successful is that it allows anyone to participate in the program [8]. Notably, the U.S. is often selective and preservative about its programs for the mentally ill or disabled and does not offer full coverage [5]. Another success factor is that the government pushed for the individuals to be reinstated within society. To help the homeless tenants achieve self-sufficiency, the government provides them with sources of income, and if there is a lack of income, it provides funds through social assistance programs [8]. To help integrate the homeless into neighborhoods and reduce pushback, many groups in the programs were encouraged to engage in the neighborhood, helping collect litter and maintain parks. The program also set up a 24-hour hotline to report any problems with the homeless [8]. Furthermore, the program was a large collaborative effort from national, regional, and non-profit leaders [8]. This type of program has also proven successful for people with mental illness in cities in Canada [8].

From research, a few points stand out in attempting to solve the poverty and homelessness problem:

1. Providing affordable housing and alleviating the exorbitant housing costs
2. Saving individuals from poor health conditions induced by poor housing
3. Focusing on the disproportionately affected demographics (Native Americans and African Americans) and economically disadvantaged groups.

All of these problems can be solved by one central fix: by providing immediate and cheaper housing. However, the problem should not just be a government problem. As demonstrated by how Finland solved the problem, there needs to be national, regional, and individual cooperation to truly solve the problem. It is also important to consider integrating the less fortunate into the community, allowing them to develop their place in society and feel welcomed rather than simply being provided with undirected aid. Additionally, the government should also crucially focus on those disproportionately affected and suffering from extreme poverty.

To reiterate, integrating those in poverty or homelessness into society is an extremely important factor for ensuring that they stay out of poverty and have opportunities in life. Therefore, the chosen construction sites should meet most, if not all, of these criteria:

1. Be in an urban environment
2. Although it is more costly to acquire land and build in urban environments, being in an urban environment is particularly important as it offers individuals opportunities for success. According to Cities Forum, the quality of life in rural areas is lower when compared to cities as they lack proper infrastructure and facilities, leading to malnutrition, food insecurity, poverty, and inadequate health care [10]. Furthermore, in the city, it is much easier to get and maintain higher-paying jobs than in rural areas [10]. Additionally, many city jobs offer generous employee benefits, covering healthcare, paid sick leave, paid vacations, and pensions/retirement benefits.
3. Have a welcoming and collaborative environment and community
4. The worst places to incorporate those in poverty or homelessness are an unwelcoming environment and community. People become naturally influenced by their environment, and being in a terrible one drains their mental and physical energy [5].
5. Be close to support structures (i.e., Health care centers, Educational Structures, Police Stations)
6. In solving the poverty and homelessness problem, we do not need to reinvent the wheel. Instead, it is much more economically viable to take advantage of already existing programs and organizations stationed around the world. In particular, many of these programs are centered around urban communities, serving as another reason to build in urban environments.

Figure 1. Figure displaying the surrounding area of an unoccupied forest. As demonstrated by the nearby area, there is a variety of supermarkets, stores, schools, and residential areas. Not far from the area is also a large mall and large commercial districts, such as New Dorp Lane.

Figure 2. Figure displaying the area of the unoccupied forest. Notably, the area is roughly 15 acres of land.

As I have lived in New York City all my life, one of the first site considerations was development on Staten Island. Many do not know this, but Staten Island, although considerably further away from the other 4 boroughs, is still part of New York City. The site is particularly viable due to the vast “green zones,” areas of forests, and, therefore, it is a heavily underutilized and underdeveloped area. The area also offers a vibrant and welcoming environment and has many commercial areas, offering various opportunities for employment. Additionally, as it is extremely close to more commercial areas of New York City, such as Manhattan, individuals have the opportunity to travel into the city with the extremely robust and built transportation systems, severely widening the number of opportunities and prospects. Living on Staten Island also cuts down on living expenses while also keeping the quality of life the same, if not better.

Figure 3. Figure displaying a preliminary sketch of the building. Notably, the sketch includes considerations for general airflow, room arrangements, and structure. Since rammed earth is being used, certain considerations were also highlighted.

Completing a first sketch is crucial to your design process. A sketch helps indicate the direction a building will go towards, pointing out any crucial flaws and helping brainstorm. Additionally, it is much easier to make revisions to a sketch than when constructing the place, saving time and effort.

For this specific sketch, I decided to focus on maximizing the natural properties of the rammed earth, focusing on cutting down on cooling and heating costs. Specifically, the house was designed to draw more sunlight during the winter, helping heat the house, and less sunlight during the summer, helping cool the house. Additionally, for the sunlit areas, communal areas such as a lounge were included. To help add greenery to the building, there were also plans for green spaces and gardens.

Figure 4. Diagram detailing rammed earth wall construction [13].

Rammed earth was chosen as the building material, as it is inherently resilient, eco-friendly, and energy efficient. In essence, rammed earth architecture consists of building much of the exterior of buildings out of a unique mix of compressed earthly materials such as sand, silt, clay, and gravel [11]. In modern times, builders typically add 5-10% of cement to help strengthen the materials.

Since most of the materials are commonly found in nature, the architecture is almost entirely eco-friendly. As a testament to its strengths, rammed earth architecture has been used since ancient times, with the earliest discoveries of the technique dating back to 5000 B.C.E [12]. Notably, the technique is also responsible for upkeeping parts of enormous structures such as the Great Wall of China [12].

Beyond the eco-friendly nature of the materials, it is also highly cost-efficient. Since most of the materials used are common, many can be locally sourced, reducing transportation costs and material waste. Due to the inherent durable nature of the materials, they are also incredibly low maintenance, only requiring action every 10-20 years, and, as exemplified by the Great Wall of China, can last centuries.

Typically, rammed earth architecture was used in humid environments with higher temperatures. However, technology has enabled it to be essentially anywhere in the world. For colder climates, additional insulation is required, and for areas of higher rainfall, the walls require extra protection against it [11].

Due to the unique earthly materials of rammed earth architecture, it is an excellent natural insulator, saving on energy costs [11]. Due to its large thermal mass, it slows heat from escaping from the building and helps release heat when temperatures rise [11]. If additional insulation is required, it should be done on the outside to ensure proper insulation [11]. However, it is important to consider that rammed earth walls naturally absorb water and have to evaporate the water, making it crucial that the insulated walls are constructed out of vapor-permeable material [11].

Figure 5. A diagram displaying the structural components of a rammed earth wall [15]. Notably, there is a strong foundation to help hold the structure of the wall up.

Considering the fact that rammed earth architecture may require differing specifications depending on the location, it is important to understand the geography, weather, and temperature of the surrounding area. New York City typically has moderate temperatures and decent weather, with little rainfall or humidity. However, it does sometimes snow and, therefore, may require additional insulation.

To ensure the structural integrity of rammed earth, it is also important to construct a strong framework to hold the structure (See Figure 5). Typically, these frameworks are made with steel and finished with plywood [11]. After completing the rammed earth construction, the frameworks can often be removed, saving materials, allowing them to be reused for additional construction.

When constructing rammed earth, there are also different types of construction: raw and stabilized. Raw only requires a mixture of natural materials, while stabilized mixes the natural materials with a binder. Considering that these structures should last long (to ensure several generations can have the asset), stabilized rammed earth seems like the best option. Although the cost may increase, it is best to consider the quality (and thereby the longevity of the structure) rather than the quantity that can be made.

The process for constructing rammed earth architecture typically involves two important processes: mixing and compacting. For the mixing, a construction company could either mix the materials on-site or refine them off-site. For the compacting, a construction company needs heavy-duty pneumatic tampers to ensure the materials are properly compacted (See Figure 4).

Since the walls of the houses are constructed entirely of rammed earth, it is important to consider that they are particularly ill-suited for rain. Although incredibly durable, by coming into contact with rain, rammed earth walls can be weakened [11]. Therefore, it is best to avoid water by building the structure a bit above ground level and overhanging the room over the walls.

Due to the natural insulation provided by rammed earth structures, the construction will take full advantage of the benefit, building in such a way that the thermal flywheel effect can be maximized. This means that the building will receive more sunlight during the winter and less during the summer, effectively reducing the heating and cooling costs of the structure.

Before building the framework for the rammed earth, it is also important to properly construct the base. For these specific homes, a base of at least 9 inches (23cm) high should be used to prevent water from interacting with the walls.

Figure 7. Figure displaying the green infrastructure of New York City [16]. Notably, Staten Island is almost entirely surrounded by green space.

Out of all the boroughs of New York City, Staten Island is considered one of the most green and forested areas, often regarded as the “Greenbelt” of New York City. Additionally, the particular site is already fairly developed, with the surroundings being mainly buildings and a large park. Therefore, there is room for development without much worry of damaging the environment or ecosystem. When constructing the building, all of the forest will need to be removed. Based on preliminary observations, most of the area should be flat, so there is little need to flatten it.

Figure 8. A diagram detailing how thick walls enable soundproofing [14].

Rammed earth also offers many quality of life benefits, being soundproof, pest-resistant, and fire-resistant [11]. Essentially, rammed earth solves all of the problems of a traditional wooden home. Especially in New York City, soundproof homes are essential considering the immense amount of noise pollution.

Beyond the quality of life benefits, many also consider rammed earth incredibly aesthetically pleasing, offering a natural beauty to a house. As many plan to leave the houses exposed, rammed earth typically cuts down on final plastering or painting costs.

Although rammed earth, due to its unique construction, can cost the same, if not a little more, than traditional wooden frame homes, the main draw of the technique is in its durability and natural cooling and insulation, which undoubtedly help offset costs long-term. Additionally, much of the cost of rammed earth is within its initial building stages, with the laborious and extensive labor taking up much of the cost [12]. However, if a framework or initial funding were to be put into the architectural style, costs would inevitably go down. The major problem is that there is not enough specialized machinery or workers using the architecture, raising costs not based on the work or materials, but due to it being a commodity. Therefore, if there were a larger push for the architecture (by, say, the government or construction industry), costs could decrease significantly.

Incorporating a floor plan, although sometimes tedious, is extremely important for bringing your project to life. Not only does the floor plan help you organize your thoughts, but it also makes it easily apparent what may be amiss with your project, such as potential issues with plumbing or space management. When making the floor plan, be sure to have a general idea of the naming so that you can remember what to add later.

Like floor plans, dimensions are equally important to include. Dimensions tell a lot about the building and, without them, you may lead the viewer into guesswork, resulting in issues in miscommunication and, thereby, possibly ruining the entire project. Beyond communication, dimensions help you ensure that a building is accurately sized, ensuring that you are building within reasonable and realistic conditions. To add dimensions, navigate to the “Annotate” tab within the ribbon for a variety of different dimension tools.

In Revit, it is crucial to define your levels. With levels, Revit automatically defines walls, floors, ceilings, and roofs, streamlining the design process. For this specific model, a 3-floor building was picked as larger buildings near the area are similar in height, fitting the building into the environment. Notably, a foundation level was also made. Typically, foundations are built underground to stabilize the structure. Therefore, the foundations were set about a meter underground. Commands such as the foundational wall are useful to illustrate more details. Of course, during construction, it is recommended to add more support and consideration for the fountains. However, since this is a model, an indication of the factor is often enough.

To mimic the walls for rammed earth architecture, new types of walls were made. Specifically, insulation and foundational structures were added. Although the foundation is up to 2 meters, the wall height is set to 2.3 meters as rain can bounce up to 0.3 meters or 30 centimeters, possibly waterlogging the rammed earth wall. Additionally, a higher wall can help prevent water from remaining next to and absorbing into the wall. As a tip, if the foundation is in the interior, you can press ‘space’ to flip the wall around, making it on the outside.

To help with the foundations and to transition from foundation to floor, the floor also included foundations. This detail allows for the floor to be more load-bearing and capable of supporting the heavy rammed earth walls.

Figure 9. Diagram describing the space required for plenum areas [22].

When making the floor and ceiling, it is always proper to leave a gap between the two for the plenum, allowing for proper air ventilation, electrical systems, and piping.

To navigate the building, it is obvious that there should be stairs and elevators. What is less obvious is where to place them. Generally, they should be near the middle of the building for convenience.

To make sure that the stairs and elevators are properly installed, there should be empty space created for them. Commands like shaft are especially good for scenarios like this.

As we already have our levels for the building set up, all we need to do is complete the stairs on the first floor. The command ‘stair’ should have all that you need for completing them. Considering convenience and comfort, two sets of stairs were made around the middle of the structure. Along with the stairs, elevators were also included. These ensured that the building is friendly towards those with disabilities. Notably, doors near elevators and stairs were made larger for these reasons as well.

Since the building is a dorm-style building, it is reasonable to have a built-in laundromat. This type of communal living is much more cost-effective than providing laundry stations individually. Additionally, the ‘profits’ from the coin-operated laundry rooms will be reinvested into the building, helping residents and hosting events. Notably, the laundry rooms are near the bathrooms, allowing for easier plumbing and saving costs. Within the laundry room (bottom left), there is also a clothes donation area, allowing residents to easily repurpose any clothes. Putting donation areas near the laundry streamlines the process of donations, increasing the chances that clothing donations will occur.

Water Foundations

As there is a lack of sinks due to dorm-like living, there is also a lack of water supply. To solve this issue, a centralized water system is installed throughout the building. Similar to the laundry area, water fountains were built near the bathroom areas to ensure easy plumbing.

In the bathrooms, walls are used to help break up the space, ensuring privacy and that the space is not too empty. The walls also help install plumbing without disturbing the flow of the architecture.

Notably, there are green lines (called model lines) to help illustrate certain components of the building. When building, it is not necessary to build all components or fully furnish the area. Rather, it is much more important to finish incorporating the idea of the structure. What makes the building design process so unique is that it is often a cooperative process involving large teams of architects, engineers, electricians, interior designers, and more, so do not feel overwhelmed or compelled to furnish or finish everything.

Again, as this is a dorm structure, there isn’t a need to include bathrooms for everyone, reducing costs for bathrooms. Notably, the bathrooms were also specifically designed to be disabled friendly while also doubling as family bathroom stalls.

When building bathrooms and showers, it is also a good idea to incorporate the bathroom in the same area on all floors for ease of plumbing.

Social areas are known to be extremely beneficial for your social, emotional, and physical well-being [17]. Therefore, the lounge area was specifically made to be a small and private place to help create a homely and intimate atmosphere. Additionally, free book stations were included on the sides to pass the time. Like the bathrooms, the walls were used to help break up the space into two distinct areas.

Here is what the current middle section looks like:

To help ensure everything functions within the dorm, a reception area was made available. Here, there is a general office for any concerns or questions. Included in the area are also two small areas for visitors.

Notably, the reception area includes locked doors for security. To help the residents of the building, many of the jobs, like the reception, are held by them.

To continue developing socialization within the building, a larger lounge area was also made available. Unlike the more intimate lounge, the lounge doubles as an area to relax and complete work. The lounge area was specifically designed to capture sunlight (facing towards the sun) to allow for natural lighting. It was also made to be extremely accessible, having multiple pathways leading to the area to encourage socialization, communication, and networking. Beyond socializing, it is also a great area to rest, with comfortable sofas and chairs spread around the place. Notably, a carpet is used to help break up the room and define the ‘lounge’ area.

Like a dorm, the building employs a cafeteria, having a commercialized kitchen and conveyor dish washing system. Notably, specialized walls were created to break up the space of the room, separating the dish unloading area and the dish washing areas. Like the bathrooms, green lines or model lines were used to illustrate where specific areas would be, creating space for the kitchen, dish washing, and loading dock. Since the cafeteria was built near the dorms, walls were used to help soundproof the area, creating a sound gap to prevent kitchen sounds from leaking into the residential areas.

Included in the dishwashing system is a compost system. This is useful for creating natural fertilizer for the garden outside the building while also helping reduce food waste.

The cafeteria area was intentionally designed to be large to serve not only the residents but also others in need. However, for security reasons, the cafeteria is closed to the dorms and lounge with security doors.

Since the cafeteria is so commercialized, costs for entering the cafeteria can remain low as food preparation can often be made in bulk, helping reduce costs for residents. Like a dorm cafeteria, residents and people from outside pay a flat fee to enter the cafeteria. Prices are solely based on how much it would cost to operate the cafeteria (buying supplies and paying employees) to help keep prices low.

When creating chairs and tables for a cafeteria, there are a few ways to make it easier. In Revit, there are array commands that help with circular tables and mirror commands to help with rectangular tables.

As a general tip, it is good to create different types of tables beforehand and arrange them. This method not only allows you to easily reiterate on designs but also to have a defined structure to the cafeteria.

When working with this project, I found that I often changed the wall structure to include additional elements. Often, this leads to not only the walls needing to be changed but also the floor and ceilings. Therefore, as a general tip, a lot of this work can be avoided by simply locking the floor and ceilings to the walls as shown in the image above.

Along with the cafeteria on the first floor, another floor was also made to help increase the capacity.

Like the lounge, the cafeteria took full advantage of the sun cover, employing large windows to capture it throughout the day.

When creating the roof, ensure that you know the roof type you are going for. For this specific structure, the roof was created to ensure that rainwater doesn’t excessively become absorbed by the rammed earth walls, which would slowly deteriorate and damage the walls. Therefore, the edges of the walls were covered with slanted rooms. To add architectural design, the roofs in the front were specifically designed to be a level lower to match the large windows in the lounge and cafeteria. Commands such as offset are particularly important for creating the described roofs. The first image demonstrates how a roof without settings would look, which is notably terrible as the structure leaks into the walls and does not provide any coverage. The second image demonstrates how the roofs should be made, with a reasonable offset to prevent rain from excessively entering the rammed earth walls.

To save on costs, the top of the roof was made to be a flat roof, employing roof drains to remove water. Since the top roof is relatively flat, it is also suitable for incorporating solar power, helping reduce and offset electricity consumption and cost for residents.

To help connect the walls with the roof, commands such as attach are helpful.

Since the building was built on foundation walls, stairs and ramps were made up onto the building.

To 3D print the building, I split the building up to ensure that the print is smooth and does not require too many supports. Notably, the walls were colored to demonstrate the unique rammed earth walls.

If you have never used a soldering iron, please DO NOT TRY these optional steps.

For safer alternatives, use breadboards and pre-soldered wires or alligator clips.

Materials

Soldering Iron

Soldering Wire

Wires

White Led Lights

Resistors

Solar Panel

Solar Panel Converter

The framework of the system is pretty simple.

The white LED lights that I have come with resistors preattached, so all I needed to do was attach them to a wire. As shown in images 1 and 2, the negatives of the white LED lights were attached to the black wire, while the positives were attached to the white wire through soldering. Crucially, a heat-shrink cover was placed around both soldering sites to prevent exposed wires.

After the wires were soldered, they were connected to a solar system. The solar system is a self-sustaining system that incorporates a 20W solar panel to generate electricity, an inverter and controller to convert the solar energy to electricity, and a 7000 mAh battery to store the converted electricity. Then, the 7000 mAh battery is the energy source for the white LED lights, creating a light glowing effect.

Conclusion

Homelessness, poverty, and racial discrimination are very complex systems and problems. There are many ways that a person or family could end up homeless, in poverty, or become a victim of racial discrimination, and solving all of these problems would be almost impossible. There is a need to solve discrimination, the housing crisis, the economy, inflation, and the list goes on and on. But, as Finland has demonstrated, the U.S. does not need to solve the root of the problems. Rather, it is much more intuitive first to find solutions for the people–which there are a needless number of–who are suffering the most, rather than spending decades and focusing on problems that have and will continue to be unsolved for decades to come. Yes, they are all crucial problems, but what people need is immediate action.

Following the footsteps of Finland, the U.S. could change many of its shorter-term policies and practices to more immediate and longer-term programs. The data is evident: many of these overnight shelters, soup kitchens, or even social aid are not truly. Instead, they are merely delaying many from going straight back to their situations, providing short-term relief. By immediately providing many of the disadvantaged with stable housing, they can experience a myriad of benefits that will later enable them to integrate back into society. One of the most fundamental problems of these national issues is that many are simply unable to escape from it, as it is a plague that continues to worsen the longer they are exposed. The faster people can come out of that struggle, the less susceptible they are to the dangers of inadequate housing, expensive medical care, and even premature death.

But why should the government invest so much money and resources into these problems? Isn’t the problem going to need continued and enormous funding due to the nature of the homeless problem? All of these are valid questions. Yet, first and foremost, it should be noted that the government is dealing with people. These numbers each represent an individual, and the effects of homelessness can completely ruin a person’s life, significantly reducing their mental, physical, and emotional health and, thereby, reducing their lifespan. Without taking action, the government is killing people, children, and families.

1. Sousa, Tanya D. & Henry Meghan. “The 2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress.” AHAR, December 2024, https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2024-AHAR-Part-1.pdf. Accessed 1 April 2025.

2. Tinsley, David M. “Paycheck to Paycheck: What, Who, Where, Why?” Bank of America, 22 October 2024, https://institute.bankofamerica.com/content/dam/economic-insights/paycheck-to-paycheck-lower-income-households.pdf. Accessed 1 April 2025.

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