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paraSITE concept homeless shelter feeds on AC systems

parasite

Want to help the homeless and make a political statement at the same time? Just give your local destitute individual a paraSITE, an inflatable shelter that gets its juice from the output of "host" building ventilation systems. (Parasite feeds on the host. Get it? Oh, never mind.) The paraSITE is actually a concept inspired by Bedouin desert shelters and created by artist Michael Rakowitz to call attention to the plight of the homeless. Rakowitz has built about 20 of them over the past few years using mostly found materials. So, don't expect to ever be able to buy one — but feel free to use the cash you would've spent on it to give a derelict friend a few bucks for their next meal.