7509 pennsylvania avenue

The Waldo duplex is the most ambitious project to date that the Design+Make studio has undertaken. The goal is to provide a much-needed model of affordable housing that can be replicated in Kansas City and beyond. We soon learned that it wasn't enough to simply build - we needed to make a statement on what affordable housing can, and should be going forward into the future. 

We started the project with an intention to create a new template for domestic life. Every home can be considered as being made up of two parts - things that can freely float, and things that can’t. The permanent things are consolidated and packed tightly towards the core. Carvings into that solid allow for threshold spaces where the semi-public, service activities take place. The remainder is a single, open floor space that can respond to the needs of the future tenant, similar to “build to suit” space. In this case, only a few lightweight interior partitions are needed to subdivide the open “studio” space into a two-bedroom unit.  

The envelope then is purely a reaction to the local conditions. Stick framing and corrugated metal panel cladding were chosen as they’re the most affordable way to build in this locale, durable, and cohesive with both the urban and residential fabric that converge on the site.


Media Coverage:
https://archpaper.com/2017/02/kansas-state-student-duplex-el-dorado/#gallery-0-slide-0

http://www.kansascity.com/news/business/development/article130397829.html

http://www.kmbc.com/article/k-state-students-creating-smart-housing-in-waldo/9177178

http://www.metrowiremedia.com/news/ksu-grads-kc-firms-launch-waldo-project-as-solution-for-soaring-rents?rq=ksu