Projects Archive - Office of: Office

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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The Backyard Homes Project

Office of: Office — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 17:50:34 +0000

The Backyard Homes Project is a City of Los Angeles based affordable housing initiative that helps homeowners build a new affordable rental Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) in their backyard.

The program, initiated by LA Más and now led by Office of: People, was developed to explore the viability of ADUs as an affordable housing option.

The goal was to promote stability for housing insecure tenants, while supporting homeowners in earning reliable income from their new rental unit. Launched in 2018, this program offered a one-stop-shop to support homeowners with technical assistance, including financing, design, permitting, construction, and tenant matching. Other program offerings include free landlord education and project management.

Participants that have received this support are committed to renting to a Section 8 voucher holder for a minimum of 5 years.

The program offered a suite of prototype ADUs in three different styles for homeowners to select from that could reflect the context of their community, or their personal culture.

Each ADU design prioritized architectural details, space efficiency, and affordable construction. This approach also helped save the homeowner time and cost in the design and permitting phase.

PROJECT PARTNERS:

GENESIS LA ECONOMIC GROWTH CORPORATION, JP MORGAN CHASE & CO., SELF-HELP FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, RESTORE NEIGHBORHOODS LA (RNLA), LA FAMILY HOUSING, ST. JOSEPH CENTER, HOUSING RIGHTS CENTER AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES (HACLA).

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City of South Gate Permit Ready ADU Program

Office of: Office — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 16:41:03 +0000

Developing a program to increase ADU development in the City of South Gate

We have partnered with the City of South Gate to design a Permit Ready ADU Program that offers South Gate property owners a selection of free ADU Plans that have gone through part of the Plan Check process and are eligible for expedited permit approval. Participating homeowners benefit from reduced pre-development costs, a streamlined design, and expedited permitting process.

In an effort to greatly increase the public’s awareness and understanding of ADUs, we are also leading an ADU Education Initiative that will engage residents with clear and accessible educational documents that explain the process of designing, permitting, and building an ADU.

Our goal is to develop an ADU program that reduces project costs and permitting timelines to nudge financially capable property owners to start their ADU projects. We aim to increase the number of approved ADU permits by clarifying the permitting process and empowering residents who are interested in ADU development to be well-prepared to initiate their own projects.

To be able to implement this program, we have developed a set of ADU Designs and Prototypes that celebrate the diversity of South Gate’s existing housing stock and combine a range of different architectural styles.

PROJECT PARTNERS:

CITY OF SOUTH GATE, RNLA

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Accessory Structure Certification Program

Office of: Office — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 19:28:30 +0000

Identifying opportunities to streamline upgrades for Unpermitted Residential Development

Working with numerous cities, we have focused on removing barriers to missing-middle housing production and stabilization. We’ve been working collaboratively to design a Certification Program that will offer a streamlined permitting process that helps homeowners identify and fix unpermitted upgrades made to their properties.

In the revised process, when a homeowner receives a code violation for something like the unpermitted conversion of a garage into an ADU, they would be presented the option of participating in the Certification Program. Limiting barriers to entry this program is conducted entirely at the front door of the resident. Rather than potentially remove housing stock and displace tenants, an inspector would identify critical changes needed to bring the unit to livable and safe standards.

The intent of the program is to increase the safety and livability of dwellings that may have been constructed without proper permitting and inspections. The Certification Program is a balance between being less financially burdensome on homeowners while still prioritizing tenant wellbeing.

More to Come...

One of our key practices as a team is to build the capacity of our partners to effectively implement new models of housing. Throughout the design process, we have organized regular meetings with key City staff to work through potential challenges, needed process changes, and concerns around feasibility.

Find out how to partner with us to remove barriers to housing development in your City!

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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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LA ADU Standard Plan

Office of: Office — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 18:23:59 +0000

We partnered with the City of Los Angeles to create pre-approved ADUs.

In partnership with the Mayor’s Office of the City of Los Angeles, an initiative administered by the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) was created to offer builders and homeowners pre-approved ADU building plans to allow for a less expensive and faster permitting process.

We were invited to participate in the pilot program to produce permit-ready drawing sets in addition to a series of renderings which were highlighted in the LA Times, Dwell Magazine, Metropolis, and numerous other media outlets.

For our own process, we developed guidelines that focused on prioritizing a high level of design around affordability and contextually. Our Standard Plan Prototypes reflect and combine a range of architectural styles.

PROJECT PARTNERS:

CITY OF LOS ANGELES

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SCAG ADU Plan Prototypes

Office of: Office — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 22:12:23 +0000

Proposing ADU prototypes for cities in California.

Office of Office was engaged by our non-profit contractor partner RNLA (Restore Neighborhoods Los Angeles) to complete prototypes of ADUs for a California(SCAG) (REAP) Subregional Partnership Program ADU Project in the cities of Pasadena, Santa Monica, and Laguna Beach.

We identified which architectural forms and designs were relevant to develop for each city.

This included research, gathered, and synthesized local architectural forms, styles, materials, and massing of backyard homes in each city which helped inform our design approach.

Our designs integrated factors of: law – how code shapes architecture; economic forces – how development shapes architecture; social dynamics – how do people inform space; and environment – what does context lend to form.

After we summarized and identified local typologies of ADUs, we proposed 5 new ADU prototypes for each city that responded to each’s context and character.

PROJECT PARTNERS:

RNLA, SCAG, REAP.

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BYH Project: Bleriot

Office of: Office — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 21:09:39 +0000

A part of the Backyard Homes Project ADU Prototype package, the ADU on Bleriot is available to use for all homeowners participating in the affordable ADU program.

Inspired by Sears catalogs and other prefab flat-packed home deliveries from the turn of the century, we gave homeowners a variety of flavors and interior and exterior style options to choose from regardless of unit type.

After the homeowner selects a unit type, they pick from 3 different styles (craftsman, spanish, moderne) for the interior and exterior which includes colors, finishes, features, and hardware specifications unique to the kit. This ADU is a 2-bedroom 2 bath prototype with a vivid color palette with an abstracted modern Spanish Style exterior.

The design features varied red and yellow tones in textured synthetic materials like linoleum and laminate to bring scale and durability to the affordable housing unit.

PROJECT PARTNERS:

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BYH Project: 64th

Office of: Office — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 20:46:25 +0000

64th Street ADU sits in the backyard of the homeowner’s childhood home, the existing front house is already rented to a Section 8 tenant.

With the goal of designing and renting this ADU to house another family with a voucher, a main goal of the project was to express the joy of living in a childhood home and sharing that joy with others.

An integrated front porch serves as a threshold and an informal exterior dining area, referencing the layout of historic spanish style housing.

A large abstracted and flattened column denotes the entry area while also framing the porch.

The interiors are soft pastels with classic ceramic lightbulb fixtures.

Linoleum floors and soft wood cabinets create a different world that is calm, welcoming, and serene.

Designed to house a Section 8 tenant, this project was completed as part of the Backyard Homes project.

PROJECT PARTNERS:

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BYH Project: Terrace Heights

Office of: Office — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 19:49:19 +0000

A two-story ADU built for two architects, Terrace Heights references early modern projects by architects at the turn of the century.

During this period industrial building forms were borrowed in single family homes and apartment buildings.

Using a saw-tooth roof (historically used in factories as an efficient way to let in light with a shed building structure) the project affordability integrated windows while allowing for the footprint of the home to reach the maximum setbacks.

Designed with bright cool tones and saturated accent colors, minimalist builts made of natural plywood complement colorful pockets of formica to serve as desks, countertops, and closets.

The Backyard Homes Project is a City of Los Angeles based affordable housing initiative that helps homeowners build a new affordable rental Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) in their backyard. Homeowners participating in the affordable housing program have the ability to select from seven different pre-designed ADU prototypes.

Designed to house Section 8 tenants, this project was part of the Backyard Homes project.

PROJECT PARTNERS:

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