Last year, the team took part in the 'Tiny Home Community' competition, set up by members of the North Carolina branch of the American Institute of Architects. The competition was asking participants to design low-cost homes with prefabricated elements, that could house the homeless folk of Raleigh, North Carolina. More than 100 architectural offices from all over the world answered the call, including some well-established companies, but first prize was eventually awarded to riza3. — Vice
Although Elemental, the firm of Pritzker Prize winning Alejandro Aravena, released plans for "incremental" low-cost housing meant to be assembled partly by individuals and partly by a larger social infrastructure, they're not the only ones with ideas for long term sustainable housing. Greek firm riza3's competition winning ideas for low-cost houses differ in that they use prefabricated elements, and assume that there will be some integration into a preexisting urban fabric. Here's a look at a few plans and renderings:
The individual units, which measure 20'4" by 9'8" can be integrated into a community plan, with a separate work space and common area.
For more on homelessness and its possible solutions:
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The interesting thing about this project was that it organizes a community and places it in an average neighborhood. Homeless people can live among average families (in a residential area) - not institutionalized - but as individuals.
In a less tensed - that an urban center – environment, this community - among other things - means to remind its residents how to cooperate - since they have certain responsibilities (maintaining the garden, kitchen and other maintenance) in lieu of rent. It is a way to prepare them for a potential work environment. In the same time it promotes the individuality of its residents, creating a sense of importance and home, encouraging them to mingle with the locals.
“It’s transitional housing – it’s the next step for people between homelessness and permanent residences”
It is an experiment that if it succeeds, it can be repeated; if not, the homes can be integrated elsewhere. As the constructions consist of elements, larger buildings can be developed articulating these elements differently .
The constructions supposed to be prefabricated, designed and programmed according to modular synthesis, which follows the harmonic scaling of preset absolute sizes and orders of articulation. The assembly of the load bearing structure (exoskeleton) is completed on site using local materials.
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