| External Collaborators / Partners | Mr Harry Tams, Youth Futures Inc. |
|---|---|
| UTAS Collaborators | School of Architecture & Design |
| Funding Source | DEEWR ‘Get Communities Working’ Grant; Tasmanian Community Fund |
| Project Status | Current |
The Castle Project is the design, prototyping and manufacture of autonomous mobile dwelling units based on innovative, efficient and sustainable digital manufacturing processes. The intent is to assist youth at risk of homelessness thorough the provision of competitive temporary accommodation in isolated locations as a viable alternative to mainstream timber-based construction techniques.
The Castle is a long-term collaborative project between the School of Architecture & Design and a local youth-service organisation Youth Futures. The project responds to a gap in the market for autonomous mobile housing units that are spatially clever and capable of housing one or two occupants. The project assists youth at risk of homelessness not only through the provision of affordable housing, but through skills training in close collaboration between Youth Futures and the School of Architecture & Design in terms of student work and curriculum. The system developed is known as ‘panitecture’, a combination of wall panel and furniture that is flexible, efficient and with market appeal. The project has built an expertise in sustainable micro-dwelling and digital construction (including software and apps development). 
The project is moving towards the development of a system for mass-customisation. Based on its innovation and sustainability credentials, the project has received national and international exposure and recognition in design media and international academic journals. The Castle also has commercial viability with firm orders, and has commenced negotiations on a commercial partnership with a local building/development firm. The project is also showing great promise as a low footprint eco-tourism accommodation solution.
Burnham, R and Green, RB, ‘'The Castle': Get Communities Working’, Proceedings of the 2011 International Conference of the Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia, 18th - 21st September 2011, Geelong, Australia, pp. 23-32. ISBN 978-0-9581925-5-2 (2011) [Refereed Conference Paper]
Burnham, R, ‘Digitally Fabricated Single skin Plywood Construction: The Castle and 'Panitecture’, 45th ANZAScA conference, 16th - 18th November 2011, University of Sydney, pp. 1-8. ISBN 978-0-9581221-3-9 (2011) [Refereed Conference Paper]
Burnham, R and Green, RB, ‘The Castle: Digital Fabrication of Micro-housing’, Computing Cognition and Education, ANZASCA, Ning Gu, Michael J. Ostwald and Anthony Williams (ed), Newcastle, pp. 219-231. ISBN 978-0-9806034-3-9 (2009) [Book Chapter]
Burnham, R and Green, RB, ‘The Castle’, Sustainable Theory: Theorizing sustainability, 4-5 September 2009, Wellington, New Zealand, pp. 1-11. ISBN 978-0-475-12346-6 (2009) [Refereed Conference Paper]
Burnham, R and Green, RB, ‘The Castle: micro-housing options of young people at risk of homelessness’, ANZAScA 08, proceedings, 26-28 November 08, Newcastle, pp. 67-74. ISBN 97809805035-0-0 (2008) [Refereed Conference Paper]
Members (External)
Dr Richard Burnham, Lecturer, School of Architecture & Design
Mr Robin Green, Workshop Manager and Technical Officer, School of Architecture & Design
Mr Ian Clayton, Lecturer, School of Architecture & Design