People Power

MIREILLE_STEINHAGE_RIGHTPAGE-by mael henaff.jpg

This thermochromic sheet demonstrates temperature above 27°C by turning blue.

According to the latest UK Government’s Index of Multiple Deprivation, Jaywick is the most deprived area of Britain. As such, it is an area most affected by increasing inflation and energy prices. Solar energy is a free and sustainable source of power that is often not accessible due to the cost. Having explored accessible solar energy in my practice, I wished to share the functions and possibilities of solar power to facilitate equal access to this resource. I designed and organised a workshop for the youngest members of the Jaywick community. We soldered LED lights onto mini 5-volt solar panels and performed an experiment to show how the LED light turned off and on again as we blocked the solar panel with our hands repeatedly. With the help of one of the parents, we also built a custom phone charger.

The children that live here have a hard time sleeping. The toilet needs to be repaired, and it’s always cold. The boy shares a bed with his mum, his baby sister sleeps in the crib. They use the portable heater once a week when it’s their turn. They live together with three other families, every family has one room. They receive tinned food from charities that they eat on the floor.

‘Bedrooms of London’ by Katie Wilson

This is the room of a single mother with three sons. It has been their home for over a year. Social services moved them to this place after having lived in hostels for six months. The parents of the boys had to split up due to domestic violence. This was a difficult decision as they were financially dependent on the father. The mother is happier now, but apart from her kids, she has nothing.

‘Bedrooms of London’ by Katie Wilson

In this one-room accommodation, live a mother and her two kids. The oldest sleeps in the blue bed next to his young sister and mother. Social Services moved them in two years ago when they were living in a flat with no electricity or heating. Paramedics found them when their mum had a seizure. When this happened, the kids were under her duvet wrapped in clothes. The boy was the one that called the ambulance.

‘Bedrooms of London’ by Katie Wilson

2022 - The UK Parliament reported that in 2020, 14.5 million people lived in relative poverty after housing costs in the UK. Considering the rising cost of living, this project aims to support people to stay warm by alleviating some of the strains of soaring energy prices.

'Solar Blanket' is a heated blanket that is powered by the sun. It uses solar power to generate electricity and saves energy by directing heat toward the user. It isolates the warmth in their immediate space and avoids wasting energy on heating up an entire area. The blanket is most effective when used as a warming layer to sit or lay on. The pleats allow the blanket to be modular by concentrating the heat on a single person when folded and on multiple people when expanded.

The blanket is most effective when used as a warming layer to sit or to lay on. The pleating allows the blanket to be modular by concentrating heat. It fits one person when folded and multiple people when expanded. Furthermore, it benefits from being off-grid, giving the user the option to be self-sufficient.

The solar panel, designed to be placed in front of a window, works in most weather conditions. It can charge a portable power bank which powers the blanket and any other objects in the home. This portability means the blanket is not location bound.

The project also aims to emphasize the need for increased accessibility to sustainable choices by providing an inclusive way to create comfortable homes for all.

‘… when home isn’t a home, but a place that you avoid as long as possible, lingering in shopping centres or libraries, where you can stay warm for a little longer.’

K. Hudson, The Guardian, 2022

Special thanks to the Community of Jaywick.

Photography & Film: Maël Hénaff

People Power

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