Housing LA
ARCH 4932 - Summer 2020
Instructors: Heather Flood + Stephen “Scrap” Marshall
As part of a collaboration between Gensler and Woodbury University School of Architecture, this studio aims to provide a solution to LA’s shortage of affordable housing through modular and pre-fabrication techniques. These three designs focus on the use of Structural Insulated Panels (SIP). The studio can be divided into three parts: small, medium, and large housing.
Small.
The Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) utilizes a four feet grid system inspired by the standardized size of SIP in North America to create a building capable of being transported on a flat-bed truck and with a footprint small enough to fit in a backyard. To maximize space and maintain its footprint, the bedroom is lifted to the mezzanine level, which creates areas for storage and a bathroom. The living area, through the use of a large overhead door, can be opened to the exterior essentially doubling usable space and encouraging a hybrid interior/exterior lifestyle.
Medium.
The Co-operative (Co-op) reinvents the standard SIP system and integrates a grid structure that replaces the cap plates in the panels. The new panels can now be inserted into the grid structure, increasing the speed and ease of construction. The hollow steel tubes also allow for the transportation of electricity and water to the units. The units utilize the same principles of the ADU by raising programs and creating new spaces underneath. The Co-op takes this idea even further by alternating the units vertically, creating communal spaces below and above the building.
Large.
The Apartments are inspired by the concept of “Plug and Play”, a term used in consumer electronics to signify little to no setup required for use. This design uses ten by ten feet cubes of program which are then arranged into Tetris-shaped units. These pre-fabricated units can then be stacked to form an overall building scheme that centers around communal spaces, creating a stepped appearance. Although this project has a specific site, it utilizes derivative shapes with the intention of being easily rearranged and relocated to any site.
