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The Affordable Infill Housing Design Challenge was organized by the Community Design Collaborative and the Philadelphia Neighborhood Development Collaborative (PNDC). The goal of the Design Challenge was to push the affordable housing envelope through design—introducing new prototypes that would fit within city neighborhoods where many existing homes have less than 1,000 square feet of living space and prospective development parcels might yield less than ten new homes. “By expanding the menu of design alternatives, we can create more housing choices that meet the needs of future and existing residents and support their ability to build wealth through homeownership,” says Beverly Coleman, Executive Director of PNDC.
Three working partnerships between architecture firms and community development corporations (CDCs) were at the heart of the Design Challenge. The firms were charged with designing prototypes for single-family homes with three or more bedrooms and 1,200 square feet of living space on sites selected by their CDC partners. In December 2005, the firms presented their designs to a jury of the CDCs and representatives from government agencies and the design and construction industry.
Strategies for Rehab
Francis Cauffman Foley Hoffmann, Architects and New Kensington CDC
The Francis Cauffmann Foley Hoffman project team focused on strategies for expanding six existing rowhouses. Their “Stack House” option added a third floor, bringing interior square footage up to 1,100 square feet—more if a new stair tower is constructed outside of the building footprint.
David Cleghorn of New Kensington CDC sees a strong neighborhood market for a unit that improves upon the basic rowhouse: “Rehabs are our bread-and-butter projects...these homebuyers have a high comfort level with continuity.” Tim McDonald of Onion Flats added, “:Kensington and Fishtown are neighborhoods that are really rich in texture...The ‘Stack House’ idea really works with the fabric that’s already there.”
Green Affordable Housing
Interface Studio with Associacion de Puertorriquenos en Marcha (APM)
Interface Studio worked with a 40 by 450 foot strip of land on Sheridan Street and a larger companion site on the 600 block of Berks Street. APM wants to diversify its affordable housing offerings and was open to exploring a sustainable design. “
The site plan features an interlocking set of homes with their long elevations to the street to fit the narrow sites and accommodate solar power and stormwater collection. “We didn’t explore sustainable technologies at this preliminary stage, but instead focused on integrating the buildings and site with the neighborhood—an important aspect of sustainable community,” says Brian Phillips of Interface Studios, “We also created very a regular plan with a simple layout, a central core with live/sleep space on either side. We tried to emphasize openness.”
Block Reconfiguration
Becker Winston Architects with Project H.O.M.E.
The St. Elizabeth’s neighborhood has lost more than half its residents since 1950. The community is regaining its stability through Project H.O.M.E’s groundbreaking housing and social services programs, but still needs to address some of the cramped, depopulated streets that form the interiors of larger blocks.
Becker Winston Architects presented a plan to reconfigure the lot lines and street layout block interior. Twenty twin units span across two new, wider streets. Floor plans are flipped in each set of twins, so that front and rear entrances alternate along each street. Lisa Armstrong of Armstrong Kaulbach Architects, a Design Challenge jury member, observed that this arrangement “allows for kitchen lights and eyes on the street in the evening”.
Jill Roberts of Project H.O.M.E says some residents who weathered the bad times regard open space as more of a threat than an asset. Becker Winston proposes a carefully considered menu of open space—private courtyards, generous parking lanes, and street trees on bump outs—to restore a sense of security—and community.
Jurors
Moderator: Jody Beck, Architect, University of Pennsylvania
Lisa Armstrong, AIA, Armstrong Kaulbach Architects
Nick Dema, Redevelopment Authority of Philadelphia
Jim Ferris, Regional Initiatives, Fannie Mae Foundation
Mike Funk, International Consultants, Inc.
Michael Johns, AIA, NOMA, Philadelphia Housing Authority
Deborah McColloch, Office of Housing and Community Development
Tim McDonald, RA, Onionflats
Ferdinando Micale, AIA, Wallace Roberts & Todd
David Cleghorn, New Kensington CDC
Manuel Delgado, Asociacion de Puertorriquenos en Marcha
Jill Roberts, Project H.O.M.E.
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