Research Archives - Office of: Office

Adaptive Multi-Generational Housing

Office of: Office — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 18:00:27 +0000

Designing Affordable Housing Models to better meet the needs of Multi-Generational Households of Color

“Adaptive Multi-Generational Housing” outlines a proposal to design new, affordable housing to better meet the needs of multi-generational households. By promoting intergenerational permanence through housing that is adaptive, this project is one of many strategies necessary in the mitigation of displacement pressures experienced by communities of color throughout Los Angeles.

The overall design is contextual to Los Angeles, where single family homes and multi-family dwelling are common. More importantly, it��reflects the lived experiences of families at risk of having to leave their home communities. Providing the flexibility for families to grow into and adapt their homes allows them to continue shaping their neighborhoods.��

This project supports a flexible and episodic timeline of use. Movable partitions in each home are placed next to built-in daybeds within the bedrooms, living rooms, and kitchens to allow for flexible sleeping nooks for short and medium stay family members.

Communities of color have long had to adapt to a housing system and type of architecture that was not designed for them. This project prioritizes their way of living and adapts the infrastructure to not only meet an individual family’s needs but also to promote stability and resilience among communities of color.

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City of Boston Non-Conformity Analysis

Office of: Office — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 17:46:55 +0000

Recommending Zoning Changes to increase ADUs in Boston’s Mattapan Neighborhood

Working with Woodsong Associates, our team combined research, design, urban planning policy analysis, and knowledge of architectural constraints to identify potential changes to Boston’s zoning code that could encourage the development of ADUs and middle infill housing in the Mattapan neighborhood. We focused on four specific ADU typologies – External Detached, External Conversions, External Attached, and Internal Conversions.

We grounded our recommendations in Boston’s unique urban fabric, honored Mattapan’s neighborhood character, and challenged historically exclusionary zoning regulations.��We combined spatial GIS analysis with qualitative observations of housing stock, and analysis of parcel data and plans. We analyzed the zoning designation, housing style, and number of units to identify patterns in land use and housing development.��

Looking at a subset of lots that participated in City-led ADU pilot programs, we found that dwellings did not comply with restrictive limits on building envelope size, lot dimensions, and use regulations. Diving deeper, we created a nine-category typology matrix of all Mattapan residential 1F, 2F, and 3F lots based on the relationship between lot size (total square footage of lot area) and lot coverage (the total building and accessory structure footprint as a percentage of total lot area). We used this typology to fit-test potential ADUs and identify friction points with existing zoning code.

Using a case-study approach, we modeled nine Mattapan lots (one per typology) and visualized the buildable area that could potentially accommodate a standard ADU. We found that stringent frontage and Fire Code requirements made constructing an ADU infeasible on almost all lots. However, amendments to the zoning code could potentially increase the percentage of lots able to support ADU development.

To mitigate and address the identified barriers, we drew on a variety of case studies and best practices to put forth goals to:��enable zoning that accommodates middle housing types; facilitate key standards for ADUs; and address existing non-conformities��present in the current Zoning Code.

PROJECT PARTNERS:

CITY OF BOSTON, WOODSONG ASSOCIATES

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Great Streets Challenge

Office of: Office — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 06:38:16 +0000

A project to offer professional technical assistance as a resource to help re-imagine main streets across Los Angeles.

Serving as the economic development consultants for all seven winners ,our team provided design and strategic resources directed by the priorities and values set forth by the community partners to promote economic development along the selected project areas.

Pop-up project winning community partners received either local business maps to highlight nearby businesses and cultural destinations or event passports encouraging attendees and community members to explore playful demonstrations of potential pedestrian safety strategies.

We continued working with the build project winners through 2018 to develop design strategies and pilot initiatives to promote local economic development alongside the City’s $1.5 million investment in larger infrastructural changes.

Project Partners: Great Streets Studio, MIG, LADOT Artist in Residence Alan Nakagawa.

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Backyard Basics

Office of: Office — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 05:06:05 +0000

An Alternative Story for the Accessory Dwelling Unit.

Our exhibit is focused on promoting greater housing affordability in Elysian Valley along the Los Angeles River.

In Elysian Valley, also known as Frogtown, the rising tide of speculation along the Los Angeles River brings into question the nature of new development and if future projects can and should support housing, affordability and mixed-use.

Currently, the only proposed strategies for increasing residential density in Elysian Valley are developer-led apartment complexes, sporadic insertions of live-work spaces into the manufacturing zone, and isolated construction of illegal Accessory Dwelling Units, also known as granny flats. Our exhibit reconsidered the ADU, also known as Accessory Dwelling Units or granny flats, as an alternative strategy for resident-led affordable housing. As a series of strategies grounded on cooperative development, combined entitlements, and consolidated service.

Our exhibit also featured policy recommendations for ADUs that has the potential to transform the existing environment of unpermitted and unrealized housing in Los Angeles.

Venue: The A+D Museum.

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1, 2, 3 Parklets

Office of: Office — Sun, 02 Jan 2022 07:52:11 +0000

1, 2, 3. Parklets is a flexible, modular, low-cost urban assemblage.

The project supports the City’s long-term commitment to sidewalk dining through thoughtful and strategic design interventions. Our proposal, submitted to the NYC DOT Open Restaurants Program, looks to expand flexibility of uses that highlight the adaptability and resilience of small businesses throughout the city.��

Inspired by DOT’s intention to change the laws that govern sidewalk dining and streamline the application process, our strategy is to formulate a system as approachable as the goals of the NYC Open Restaurants Program.

We propose a system that has a variety of parts and applications – without a specific address, business, or site location identified.

ORGANIZER: NYC DOT.

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ADU Research

Dum Dum — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 01:13:30 +0000

We developed program frameworks to incentivize ADU development for low-income Section 8 tenants.

In 2017, We were awarded a HUD Section 4 Capacity Building Grant for Community Development and Affordable Housing from Los Angeles Local Initiatives Support (LA LISC) that supported their organizational work to increase ADU advocacy in Los Angeles.This grant enabled them to continue to find solutions that made ADUs a viable housing option for low-income renters, with a focus on Section 8 voucher holders.

In addition to allowing us to establish an ADU & Section 8 incentive program, this project was also intended to strengthen partnerships among government leaders, community organizations, and financial investors in order to achieve financial stability for the program.

This research supported by HUD was foundational to the development of the Backyard Homes Program (BYH) which Office of: Office now program manages.

Funders: LA LISC.

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Tiny House Santa Barbara

Dum Dum — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 01:06:29 +0000

Our team partnered with the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara to design a small, affordable and fully ADA accessible dwelling unit that supports an independent adult.

The unit is 583 square feet, with 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom, and is designed to be affordable, durable and to reflect the specific context and architectural style of the County of Santa Barbara.

The dwelling is arranged into three masses of various heights delineating different public/private spaces. The placement of the units creates a central outdoor patio and entry space. The open Living/Dining/Kitchen ceiling follows the hip roof line, bridging the various spaces and creating a “great room” feel.

Project Partners: Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara.

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Proyecto Pastoral

Dum Dum — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 00:43:59 +0000

Our team was proud to serve as Proyecto Pastoral’s design partner and project manager.

The Courtyard Redesign features a new decorative fence, inspired by papel picado, that serves as a welcoming face for the organization to the surrounding neighborhood.

Near the fence and front entrance is a new mini pocket park, featuring publicly-accessible seating that also doubles as children’s pay pads connected to a lily pad hopscotch ground pattern.

Inside the fence there is a new garden area and children’s play zone (funded by a Kaboom grant), which includes a climbing wall, mountains-inspired mural, and another collection of seating and play pads.

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Project Partners: Elysian Valley Community Garden, Kruegermann Pickles, Flores Artscape, Precision.��

Funders: Kaboom.

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Exhibit Columbus – Thank You, Next

Office of: Office — Mon, 01 Jan 2018 21:59:19 +0000

Thank U, Next serves as a destination where all of Columbus’s residents are welcomed and engaged.

As a part of the Washington Street Civic Project for Exhibit Columbus this project thanks civic leaders and past architects for their highly formal contributions to Washington Street, but also looks to create the next precedent for an alternative public space.

An urban plaza that is flexible, reconfigurable, playful, multiple, and open.��Thank U, Next is designed to be adaptable for diverse uses and to provide a place for social and cultural togetherness.

Thank U, Next is made up of a collection of movable furniture elements which can be rearranged to support public events to support the city’s residents.

The project hosted a calendar of cultural programming hosted by Columbus community organizations that will bring Washington Street to life with a bold spirit of inclusivity.

Funders:��Landmark Columbus Foundation, Columbus Museum of Art & Design.

Builder Partner:��Kramer Furniture and Cabinet Makers.

Community Partners:��Nomad Group, Healthy Communities, Cooking Across Cultures, the Bartholomew County Public Library, Viewpoint Books, Liz Cleland (on-site liaison).

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Commercial Lease Basics

Dum Dum — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 20:34:13 +0000

Empowering small business owners with valuable information about commercial leases.

As part of our small business support work in Wilmington, the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) led an informational presentation and workshop about commercial leases and their importance.

As part of our small business support work in Wilmington, the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) led an informational presentation and workshop about commercial leases and their importance. Informed by that presentation, our team wrote and designed an informational booklet that consolidates and summarizes useful information about commercial leases.

Our hope was that this document would disseminate helpful information to small business owners around the city who may not otherwise have access to these resources.

Project Partners: SAJE, ELACC, CRCD, LAFPC, LURN, T.R.U.S.T. South LA, LA LISC, CD15.

Sponsors: KYCC LA, LA LISC.

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