The program for this project was to design 2 affordable modular housing prototypes that could be built in a factory by High Tech Housing in Bristol, IN and placed into a row house configuration on a given site in Chicago, IL.   Modules were allowed to be either 12’, 14’, or 16’ wide, and up to 3 stries tall.  In order to maximize affordability, certain restrictions were imposed; such as flat roofs, maximum 4’-0” exposed side walls, and cantilevers no more than 4’-0”.   Each prototype was to be designed for a family of 4.  The goal for the project was to fill all the vacant lots on a given Chicago street with configurations of these two prototypesMy solution was based on trying to bring in as much light and natural ventilation as possible into these long and narrow houses, while at the same time trying to give the houses as open and large of a feeling as possible.  The 2 prototype sizes I chose to work with were a 12’ wide prototype and a 16’ wide prototype, each with 3 floors.

16’ Wide Prototype:  The 1st floor is an open plan with all the public spaces of a house, including a double-height living space.  The 2nd floor contains the children’s bedrooms and a double-height “chill” space, with access to an outdoor deck.  The 3rd floor contains the master bedroom, as well as a work space and access to an outdoor deck.  A light well extends the full height of the prototype through the center of the house to bring light into the hallways and the kitchen.

12’ Wide Prototype:  The 1st floor is an open plan with all the public spaces of a house.  The 2nd floor contains the children’s bedrooms, and the 3rd floor contains the master bedroom, a work space, and access to an outdoor deck.  The stairwell consists of open tread stairs in order to become a light well and bring light down into the center of the house.