Housing Model

 A study of a locally adaptive affordable residential architecture in Miami, Florida.   

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

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), as contribution to the community-based housing model study. The goal was to design a community friendly single family house prototype with closely controlled costs. The neighborhood already has an authentic scene, local institutions and notable meeting points 

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

A two-story home with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, on-site parking, exterior storage, BBQ patio backyard, and front and rear cantilevered canopy outdoor seating areas. Balanced lot line privacy fences and plantings. 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.