apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

That's a great concept! Though I think people in an emergency would benefit more greatly from a more soothing color than red.

I had the same thought as Jennie K. But it's worth remembering that red has different connotations in China; luck, strength, celebration, etc.

I wonder if the fabric covering could be made in different colors?

I too was thinking the red was a poor color choice.

I look forward to the BLUE HOUSING for people driven mad by the RED HOUSING.

It's basically a Yurt.

I'd dislike the reddish light too. But if you go to the website, you'll see that the red fabric roof coverings look like red crosses from the sky--a useful feature for humanitarian missions like food drops, etc.

If they aren't stressed enough by being in the middle of a disaster and homeless, the red will certainly push them over the edge.

I think if the emphasis is on shelter in an emergency, it doesn't have to look like an art installation.

I began to panic just looking at the pic

Yeah, I find the red distressing - I can't imagine having to sleep there if I was already traumatised.

THAT SAID, keep in mind that red is a different thing in China. Much more prevelant/culturally soothing. Much more a symbol of 'the nation is looking after you' (however much we might dislike that propoganda in the West) than code for 'angry'.

I wasn't thinking of the red in a cultural way, but rather how our eyes physically respond to it. Red preserves night vision, but in this instance the insides would only ever be bright during the day, so the red would give your eyes the same experience of being in the dark and you would be blinded each time you walk out into daylight. I would think an unbleached fiber (in the tan range) would provide a much more pleasant optical experience.