Project Description
This unbuilt affordable/supportive housing project aims to create an environment that encourages health and community, acknowledging that successful social spaces come through a variety of planned and organic strategies. The architects implemented several design moves to open the building towards the street and foster a sense of community within the neighborhood. A requirement to accommodate on-site parking creates an opportunity for an elevated community garden and social hub for residents and neighbors. This act will further integrate the building into the community by establishing a street presence through a storefront space and a widened staircase that connects the street to the community spaces one level up. This stoop is a gathering space and a public gesture, encouraging the types of resident and neighborhood interaction often missing in supporting housing. All the units are accessed through outdoor walkways. While the unit layouts are identical on each floor for the sake of efficiency, the walkways vary in width to create a more dynamic facade. The architects widened these walkways beyond the typical width to create informal gathering spaces and opportunities for residents to socialize. The design acknowledges the successful track record that affordable housing complexes have had with bringing supportive services in-house.This project will feature supportive service offices and community spaces, including a rooftop patio, outdoor green space, laundry and shared kitchen facilities, a community garden, and various other amenities.