Contemporary Housing Model: Contextual Living in Miami

“The housing crisis compromises our ability to develop autonomy-- infantilizing us.” — Eddie Blake, an Architect. 

The Housing Model is a study of a locally adaptive affordable architecture in a low-density residential neighborhood Little Haiti, Miami, Florida.   

After a proof-of-concept site study the lot was purchased by a third party for $62,000 in 2017 (today's value over $200,000). The goal was to design a community friendly single family house prototype with closely controlled construction costs. The neighborhood has an authentic locational position within the city as a crosspoint of North Miami, Midtown Miami and Miami Beach and is a desirable area for housing development. The local institutions have been established, and the area been populated since 1970 by predominantly Haiti and Latin population. The neighborhood has been under the attempts of large scale mixed-used development, including high-rise structures and large area casino proposals in the past 5 years approximately. 

The housing model is designed to relate to Miami vernacular and local front yard and backyard usages, and work with the scale and fabric of the area and existing trees and plantings. This design fits into the neighborhood without erasing or destroying the equity that is already built. Local and adjacent empty lots on the same block and zoning can be acquired to implement this model in a scalable way that is adapted on-site like a case study house, as a means of positive and unobtrusive development in the existing fabric.

The layout is adaptive but stays within a comfortably conventional floor plan aligned with neighboring structures, with a proposed circulation that works for both rentals, shares, and single-family living. The interior feels bright due to the strategic window layout pattern, which uses cross ventilation for cooling. The space feels fluid, airy, open, unobstructed, without pretense, and reads as a blank canvas.

A two-story residential house design allows for 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, on-site parking, exterior storage, patio backyard, front and rear cantilevered canopy and outdoor seating areas. Glazing/wall areas are carefully balanced for light and energy considerations. Front and rear canopy at both entrances are protective elements for rain and sun conditions. White stucco facade is a local material to mitigate heat impact. All materials are NOA approved by the City of Miami. Slab on-grade is poured concrete (honed finish). Exterior wall is CMU block. Roof is wood trusses. The total construction cost per SF including site work is $295/SF as of 2025. 

The conclusion of this housing model study shows how neighborhoods could transition to better quality of housing in a gentle thoughtful approach that encourages local culture and values while introducing technological advancement.