This project is a design for an affordable single-family home in Mishawaka, Indiana that was completed in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity, St. Joseph’s County. This individual design phase was followed by a group design phase with the intention of constructing the house in collaboration with Habitat in the Fall of 2021 (see below for more details).
The goal of this project is to explore ways to provide dignity and character to an affordable house and to find creative solutions to the restrictions placed by budget and limited lot size. The resulting design is a single story wood-frame house that creates a series of unique and comfortable spaces both inside and outside while remaining modest in scale. Like other standard Habitat houses in the neighborhood, it includes three bedrooms, a full basement, and a single detached garage.
Affordable housing is not often a topic addressed in most architectural education, but understanding the affordable housing situation in the United States and learning to design affordably provide vital insights into the sector of architecture facing some of the most issues. The lack of quality in much affordable housing is an issue that greatly affects both its perception and value, and many cities struggle with a lack of affordable housing. Organizations like Habitat for Humanity play an important role in addressing this issue, but they often do not have access to quality house designs. The resulting houses stand out from the other houses on their block, reinforcing the stigma associated with affordable homes.
The class behind this project seeks to address this issue. Following this initial individual design phase, students formed groups and shared ideas to create a cohesive design that optimizes efficiency while prioritizing the character and design. The resulting design (above) is a set of detailed construction documents intended to be built with Habitat for Humanity the following semester (Fall 2021). Myself and other students will have the opportunity to take part in the construction, providing us the unique opportunity to see our design become reality in a way that services our community.
