architecture research design
CITY HOUSE.
“City-House” is a multi-family housing prototype that leverages the townhouse typology for its communal and sustainable strategies to provide affordable and compact housing units in low- to medium- density neighborhoods.
STRATEGIC REPETITION
RESULTS IN ENGAGING VARIETY.
A series of repetitive micro-unit townhouses is strategically aggregated to create an efficiency of systems and a rich variety of individualized and communital spaces that can be constructed in a variety of sites. By modulating the massing of the 2-story townhouse, each unit has two dedicated outdoor spaces. The interweave of these spaces creates the overall identity and articulation of the building facades.
PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD FABRIC.
City-House creates affordable micro-housing opportunities while maintaining the character, scale, and density of local neighborhoods.
SHARED EXTERIOR GATHERING.
Communal exterior spaces are created within a programmed landscape edge that organizes shared amenities such as raised planting beds, outdoor eating areas, and play equipment within a small footprint.
INTEGRATED SUSTAINABILITY.
The townhouse typology is leveraged for its sustainable strategies with tenants being able to individually monitor their energy and resource use. Large glazed openings on either end of the unit bringing in ample daylight and cross ventilation over the unit’s shallow footprint. The pitch-roof massing of the individual units enables each townhouse to have its own solar photovoltaic array, and the underside of these pitched roofs create a lofted ceiling at the second floor for additional passive venting through an operable skylight. These and other sustainable strategies of the design build upon one another to create synergies that enhance the performance of the building, its overall design, and its community.
PROJECT INFORMATION:
PROJECT: RFP- Housing Innovation Competition, Garrison Trotter
CLIENT: City of Boston, Department of Neighborhood Development
COLLABORATORS: Johnson Engineering + Design Inc, SunRun Inc