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HOLISTIC HOUSING LAB’S

Holistic Housing Design Framework 5 Guiding Principles, 12 Design Strategies, 36 Design Actions, and 44 Case Studies for Designing Holistic Housing in Hawai‘i and the Rest of the World

AUTHORS

FOREWORD BY

Karla Sierralta, AIA Brian Strawn, AIA

Allison Arieff

The Holistic Housing Lab is a design-centered research platform dedicated to exploring housing as an interconnected system shaped by people and place.

HOLISTIC HOUSING LAB’S

Holistic Housing Design Framework 5 Guiding Principles, 12 Design Strategies, 36 Design Actions, and 44 Case Studies for Designing Holistic Housing in Hawai‘i and the Rest of the World

AUTHORS

FOREWORD BY

Karla Sierralta, AIA Brian Strawn, AIA

Allison Arieff

The Holistic Housing Lab is a design-centered research platform dedicated to exploring housing as an interconnected system shaped by people and place.

AUTHORS Karla Sierralta, AIA / karlais@hawaii.edu Brian Strawn, AIA / bstrawn@hawaii.edu CITATION Sierralta, K., & Strawn, B. 2026. Holistic Housing Design Framework. Honolulu, HI: University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. BACKGROUND & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This manual is a fundamental component of the Holistic Housing Design Toolkit (HHDT) and is based on findings from the Future of Hawai‘i’s Housing (FOHH) research project conducted at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UHM) for the Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority (HPHA). This work was made possible through the generosity and insights of the families interviewed across the Hawaiian archipelago and the close collaboration with the HPHA Executive Director and leadership team. The authors also acknowledge the many external partners, topic experts, advisors, and numerous paid members of the UHM project team, including student assistants, recent graduates, and full-time project staff, whose contributions were essential to this work. For a detailed project team and full acknowledgments, please visit holistichousinglab.org DISCLAIMER The views and opinions expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, the Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority, or any organizations providing support to this work. IMAGE CREDITS All illustrations and diagrams are by the project team unless otherwise noted. All photographs are credited as indicated. Every effort has been made to acknowledge image sources; the authors apologize for any errors or omissions. © 2026 Sierralta & Strawn This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution– NonCommercial–NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), unless otherwise noted. To view a copy of this license, visit creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/. 2026 revised edition; originally developed in 2023. This document is intended for educational/non-commercial use.

Contents About

Foreword: A Right to Good Design

by Allison Arieff Five Guiding Principles for Holistic Housing Walkable, Sustainable, and Equitable Home is Everything Closed Loops

All Hands on Deck

Extreme Events

Twelve Design Strategies & Thirty-Six Design Actions 1. Plan for Change

2. Connect Neighbors

3. Mix Uses 44 4. Put People First

5. Work with Nature 52 6. Think Long Term

7. Nurture Healthy Citizens 60 8. Build Responsibly 64 9. Expand Economic Opportunities 10. Make Data Accessible 11. Develop Diversity 12. Design for All

Forty-Four Case Studies 86 Endnotes

136

Holistic Housing Design Framework

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit Manuals Holistic Housing Design Framework

Understanding Density Visualization Catalog

Design Toolkit How-To-Guide

Sorting Cards Imagine Your Community

Case Study Cards

Know Your Density

Plan Your Neighborhood

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

Density Alphabet Set

Design Your Home

Household Profile Cards

About The Holistic Housing Design Framework presents five Guiding Principles, twelve Design Strategies, thirty-six Design Actions, and forty-four Case Studies for designing Holistic Housing in Hawai‘i and the rest of the world. This design framework is based on foundational research conducted for the Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority that began with in-home conversations with families on five islands and is informed by lived experience, observation, and research focused on well-being, equity, and everyday life. The Holistic Housing Design Framework is intended to: 1. Inspire Good Design by informing the design and planning of future walkable, sustainable, and equitable housing. 2. Serve as a Generative and Evaluative Resource. Written in everyday language, it is accessible to a broad spectrum of users and has the potential of bridging conversations between citizens and their policymakers, architects, designers, and planners. The framework was developed to express the values and fundamental needs of our communities. 3. Support Forward-Thinking policy, zoning, and code requirements and other initiatives currently being developed and implemented. This manual, presented as an illustrated handbook, is a fundamental component of the Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, a collection of tools and resources intended to inspire future designs, inform redevelopment processes, and support community engagement activities in the future planning of mixed-income / mixed-finance housing. For more information please visit holistichousinglab.org

Holistic Housing Design Framework

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

FOREWORD

A Right to Good Design by Allison Arieff Allison Arieff is an opinion columnist and editorial writer whose work on cities, design, and architecture has appeared in The San Francisco Chronicle, MIT Technology Review, Dwell magazine, and The New York Times. She has held senior editorial roles at MIT Technology Review and SPUR—an urban planning and policy think tank—and was a founding editor of Dwell. She lectures widely on the built environment and received the AIGA Steven Heller Award for Cultural Commentary in 2018.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

FOREWORD

A Right to Good Design by Allison Arieff We are living in remarkable times. The speed with which the world’s strongest economy began to fall apart once the magnitude of COVID-19 began to become apparent, is hard to grasp. The emotional toll of the pandemic followed by the devastating murder of George Floyd and the massive protests and national unrest that followed, is impossible to grasp. Every disaster exposes the fissures in society that existed before the crisis began. Thousands of Hawai‘i’s citizens lacked stable, affordable housing before the COVID-19 pandemic. But that crisis has revealed a long-term reality: the social and economic costs of this crucial gap in the safety net. In many ways, Hawai‘i is uniquely suited to take on this challenge. The island population is wonderfully diverse. It is a place rich in natural beauty and resources. Familial and community ties are strong. Vernacular architectural traditions have long recognized the importance of such things as designing to maximize natural ventilation and access to outdoor space. By combining these existing strengths with more recent technological innovations—modular construction, digital platforms and solar power, for example— can lead to a better quality of life for so many.

“Right now, we can seize the opportunity to do things differently, by taking a holistic approach to housing.” But the approach to designing and building this housing must change—and quickly. Right now, we can seize the opportunity to do things differently, by taking a holistic approach to housing. Hawai‘i has neglected to build a sufficient amount of housing over the last two decades, creating a shortfall for people of all incomes but especially low income households. It has also failed to provide the diversity of housing types that its residents require. Further, those involved in the production and development of affordable housing have long considered good design to be

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

optional, a “nice to have” rather than something essential. These factors demonstrate the need for a shift toward a bottom-up approach to designing housing for all in Hawai‘i. The handbook that follows provides a step-by-step approach to doing just that. And the need for doing so has never been more urgent.

“Together, the pandemic and protests have put into sharp relief a fundamental truth: Housing insecurity is a threat to our society.” Affording a place to live in Hawai‘i was a challenge even before COVID, especially for lowand moderate-income households. As the pandemic progressed, it became that much harder. Together, the pandemic and protests have put into sharp relief a fundamental truth: Housing insecurity is a threat to our society. Moving forward we must work toward understanding the underlying causes of escalating housing prices and how to mitigate such increases in the future. It is true that building more housing will require greater density across the islands. Throughout COVID there has been an unfounded fear that such density leads to a greater spread of the virus. This is untrue. What causes the spread is not density but overcrowding. During the pandemic, we have seen that people who live in poor quality, overcrowded or unstable housing – or people who lack housing altogether – are not able to follow public health directives to safely “shelter in place.” This means they are at far greater risk of contracting not just the virus but numerable other illnesses. But as dire as the health risks are at present, they are not the only challenge these populations face. Many also face risks of instability and, especially since March 2020, profound uncertainty about the future. Housing costs are a major cause of stress for low-income households, many of which are paying 50 percent or more of their income to housing costs. Cost-burdened households are at risk of losing their homes to eviction or foreclosure. These households are also unable to save any money to help them weather temporary income losses like so many have seen during this crisis. Stable, well-designed affordable housing can mitigate these challenges. Future pandemics and natural disasters will continue to put strains on Hawai‘i’s housing systems. By holistically planning for growth, and indeed to some degree, the unknown, the number of households who lack affordable, stable, decent-quality housing can be dramatically reduced and the quality of life improved for all.

Allison Arieff is currently the Editorial Director of Print at MIT Technology Review. She previously served as the Editorial Director of SPUR, an urban planning and policy think tank, was the founding Editor of Dwell Magazine, and was a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times. Allison lectures and writes about cities, design, and architecture, and in 2018, was the recipient of the AIGA Steven Heller Award for Cultural Commentary.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

HOLISTIC HOUSING DESIGN FRAMEWORK

Five Guiding Principles for Holistic Housing

Holistic Housing Design Framework

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

HOLISTIC HOUSING DESIGN FRAMEWORK

Five Guiding Principles for Holistic Housing Holistic Housing establishes good design as a right and not a privilege. This concept is rooted in five guiding principles: I. Walkable, Sustainable, and Equitable Holistic housing is pedestrian-centered, environmentally friendly, and socioeconomically and digitally equitable. Holistic Housing is supported by incentives, programs and platforms that provide long-term stability for residents. II. Home is Everything Holistic housing is defined as a central component of a system rather than an isolated entity. Holistic Housing relies on a nested understanding of dwelling, including multiple scales of engagement, and the tangible and intangible elements of design. III. Closed Loops Holistic housing is an integral part of both the natural and built environments. It carefully considers inputs and outputs, acknowledging the spatial limitations and finite resources defining communities. IV. All Hands on Deck Holistic housing is generated through an inclusive design process. It invites the community to actively participate across the entire planning and design process, from early phase strategy sessions to ideation workshops to final decision making. V. Extreme Events Holistic housing supports the physical, mental, social, educational, and economic well-being of its residents through moments of crisis.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

ble lka

ble

ina

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Equitable

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

I Walkable, Sustainable, and Equitable Planning for holistic housing requires socio-economic equity. Growing populations, urban densification, and transit-oriented developments have generated new ways of returning the city to pedestrians. Walkability initiatives propose residential developments near work, play, and essential services. The most desired neighborhoods are places where one can walk to the grocery store, the park, school or work; encounter public events; and participate in city life. In rural environments, walkability is also desired in central areas such as main shopping districts. Ideal settings offer safe, comfortable, and shady sidewalks for all. In addition, sustainable building codes and strategies demand special consideration for the natural environment. Taking into account how buildings interact or affect water, wind, sun, and the land is the minimum responsibility of the designer. Notions of resilience, the circular economy, and cradle to cradle thinking, suggest we must consider entire cycles, processes, and systems.

Pedestrian-centered and sustainable strategies are well known to contribute to more resilient communities, but socioeconomic equity is often overlooked. The increased variety of living arrangements, diversity of cultures, and activities within the residential realm call for new ways of thinking about residential design, calling for spaces that are safe, affordable, just, and equitable. Our current urgencies, from COVID-19 to climate change, require re-thinking the ways we design and occupy space. Planning for sea level rise, to facilitate aging in place, and to create better health outcomes, are all part of being responsible in the long run. Holistic Housing proposes a walkable, sustainable, and equitable model where housing is envisioned as part of both natural and urban environments supported by incentives, programs and platforms that provide long term stability for residents.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

Digital / Programs

Community

Neighborhood

Lot / Block

Building

Unit

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

II Home is Everything Home is Everything. When people talk about where they live, they don’t only describe their personal spaces. From rural to urban settings, families talk about their community, neighborhoods, and homes interchangeably. In the city, even the most private domestic settings have a wall, a fence, or a lawn in common with their neighbors. Co-living households use the same kitchens, bathrooms, and living rooms. Multi-family residential unit dwellers share even more including entryways, laundry rooms, mailrooms, storage spaces, parking, and other building amenities. To every resident, what happens in their immediate surroundings, sidewalks, blocks, or streets, matters greatly. Similarly, people care for common spaces in our neighborhoods, such as parks, schools, markets, or other places where they experience daily life. Some environments carry special meaning, associated with stories and traditions passed on from generation to generation or neighbor to neighbor. In Hawai‘i, the notion of belonging extends beyond political or geographic borders. A family may identify the windward or leeward side, an island, or the entire archipelago as their “home.”

“Where we live” then refers not just to the home itself but to a collection of spaces we inhabit, regardless of size, urban, suburban, or rural setting. Most recently, technological advances have shifted everyday spaces beyond physical boundaries. The digital realm, too, has become a critical and connective element of our lives, and can be a place to learn, communicate, and connect. This framework acknowledges housing as a central component of a system rather than as an isolated entity. Holistic Housing considers this nested understanding of domesticity. The interconnectedness between the private, shared, and public spheres in our built environments, both physical and digital, suggests a broader approach to residential space.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

Built Environments

Environm ral e tu

s nt 20

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

III Closed Loops Living on an island requires ingenuity, cooperation, and perseverance. We all live on an island. Hawai‘i’s location in the Pacific Ocean, nearly 2,400 miles from the North American continent and 4,000 miles to Asia, has created a society that is acutely aware of the inputs and outputs that are required to sustain itself. Living on an island requires ingenuity, cooperation, and perseverance. The Indigenous knowledge systems of the Native Hawaiian culture, including a land division system defined by natural watersheds that create highly productive lands, are attuned to and honed by a deep understanding of place and the island condition. Hawai‘i’s ambitious goal of 100% renewable energy by 2045, focus on increasing local food production, and strong desire to protect and preserve the natural environment requires the state to think differently.

Holistic Housing is more than just housing. It is the built and natural environments working to support and protect one another. It is the combination of supportive communities and neighborhoods, social programs, local businesses, responsive digital systems, and thoughtful, well designed architecture all working together in self-sustaining loops. Holistic Housing builds upon the foundational principles of Cradle-to-Cradle Design, developed by Michael Braungart and William McDonough, and the related concept of the Circular Economy as defined by Ellen MacArthur. It will take systems thinking and engineering at an ecosystem level to design a harmonious and balanced world for all of us to call home.

Carbon intensive sectors including energy, food, transportation, waste management, construction and manufacturing materials, consumer goods, and medical systems needed to support Hawai‘i’s 1.4 million citizens and more than 10 million annual visitors have to be carefully re-imagined to truly be restorative in nature.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

Community Residents

en ts

ss ne ty si ni Bu mu m

Co Government Agencies

Design Experts

Developers

Pr o

s er ild

fit

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

IV All Hands on Deck Holistic Housing necessitates a radically inclusive engagement process. Mixed-income, mixed-use, mixed-finance housing projects are designed and developed for a large and diverse audience. In addition to a blend of market rate, affordable, and public housing, they can contain retail offerings (like small businesses and grocery stores), civic programs (like libraries and schools), and public spaces (like parks and plazas). Engaging with such a diverse group of stakeholders is very different than focusing on one small segment of the population. While challenging for sure, mixed-use projects present a big opportunity to broaden the discussion beyond likes and dislikes and focus the conversation on the kinds of values future communities are built upon.

Holistic Housing necessitates a radically inclusive engagement process that welcomes in more of the community earlier in planning stages and that continues to invite input and collaboration further into the design process than has become the norm. Stakeholders might include current residents of a site, potential buyers of market rate units, students that will one day be the professionals leading these sorts of projects, local small business owners, large commercial tenants, and nonprofits offering a broad spectrum of programs for future inhabitants. Holistic Housing needs to be built together, rooted in shared values, and needs to represent and project the larger vision that particular community has of a more equitable future for all.

Today, the basic approach to community engagement is to only speak with the future/ current inhabitants of upcoming projects and surrounding neighbors as required by law, by funding partners, or both.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

V Extreme Events Periods of disruption redefine the role of the home. Despite scientific projections and warnings, large-scale disruptions—whether driven by health crises, climate events, economic shocks, or social instability—often unfold with speed and intensity. In these moments, significant portions of the population are compelled to retreat into their homes, placing unprecedented demands on domestic space. When daily life contracts inward, housing becomes the primary setting for work, learning, caregiving, and recovery. These conditions expose long-standing inequities related to access, size, location, and quality of shelter. Differences between having stable housing or none, living in compact units or expansive homes, in dense urban environments or dispersed rural settings, reveal deep disparities in spatial privilege and resilience.

health and well-being. Thoughtful housing solutions must balance collective living with adequate space, ventilation, and access to light and outdoors. As homes are asked to accommodate multiple simultaneous activities, new spatial needs emerge. Acoustic separation, flexible layouts, transitional zones, and access to outdoor space become essential to support mental and physical well-being. These conditions underscore the relevance of the twelve strategies outlined in this handbook. Holistic Housing offers a framework for living well—not only in moments of stability, but also during future periods of disruption and uncertainty.

Periods of disruption have also reignited debates around density. While high density is often mischaracterized as inherently risky, it is overcrowding—not density—that undermines

Holistic Housing Design Framework

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

HOLISTIC HOUSING DESIGN FRAMEWORK

Twelve Design Strategies & Thirty-Six Design Actions

Holistic Housing Design Framework

HOLISTIC HOUSING DESIGN FRAMEWORK

Twelve Design Strategies & Thirty-Six Design Actions Design strategies are based on attributes such as flexibility, socialization, program & use, pedestrian experience, local climate & nature, models of production & consumption, health &

WELL-BEING CONSIDERATIONS

• Spatial Privacy • Daily Transitions • Keeping Order

• Nearby Connections • Clear Communication • Neighborhood Awareness

• Staying Local • Time Outdoors • Civic Flexibility

• Active Edges • Streets for People • Safe Mobility

wellbeing, construction processes, economicsocial-digital equity, and diversity. Three design actions support each strategy, paired with well-being considerations and exemplary case studies.

• Clean Water • Fresh Air • Access to the Sun

• Grow Your Own • Circular Use • Shared Skills

• Active Living • Your Own Outdoors • Comfortable Distance

• Local Materials • Distributed Construction • Adaptive Reuse

• Delayed Homeownership • Housing Security • Income Flexibility

• Easy Decisions • Everyday Access • Financial Confidence

• Other Spaces • Housing Choice • Multilingual

• Essential Play • Aging Well • Inclusive Movement 28

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

DESIGN STRATEGIES

DESIGN ACTIONS

Plan for Change

1.1 Enable Co- and Multi-generational Living 1.2 Propose Adaptable Spaces 1.3 Offer Smart Storage

Connect Neighbors

2.1 Facilitate Friendly Interactions 2.2 Sync-up the Community 2.3 Open Sight Lines

Mix Uses

3.1 Promote Hybrid Neighborhoods 3.2 Weave in Parks & Plazas 3.3 Blend Civic Spaces into Daily Life

Put People First

4.1 Respect Human Scale 4.2 Democratize the Street 4.3 Amplify Community Mobility

Work with Nature

5.1 Foster Water Consciousness 5.2 Leverage Cross Breezes 5.3 Mind the Sun

Think Long Term

6.1 Multiply Productive Lands 6.2 Redefine Waste 6.3 Spark Skill-sharing

Nurture Healthy Citizens

7.1 Power Active Lifestyles 7.2 Provide Lānais for All 7.3 Protect Views & Privacy

Build Responsibly

8.1 Source Regional Materials 8.2 Aim for Efficiency 8.3 Anticipate Future Change

Expand Economic Opportunities

9.1 Ensure Accessible Equity 9.2 Bridge the Gap 9.3 Activate Micro-businesses

Make Data Accessible

10.1 Track Housing Availability 10.2 Streamline Household Management 10.3 Map Alternative Paths to Long-term Housing

Develop Diversity

11.1 Set Aside Flex Space 11.2 Prioritize Flexibility & Variety 11.3 Communicate in Multiple Languages

Design for All

12.1 Take Play Seriously 12.2 Support Aging in Place 12.3 Welcome People of All Abilities

Holistic Housing Design Framework

Categories & Definitions The thirty-six design actions and opportunities

VALU ES

Walkable (W) Suggesting respect for the human scale, fostering social connections, using space efficiently, and supporting local businesses, overall relating to walkable neighborhoods and cities.

presented in the Holistic Housing Design Framework can be arranged and classified in a variety of ways.

Sustainable (S) Proposing using resources wisely and maximizing efficiency through the use of passive design strategies, directly referencing sustainability and resiliency.

Three primary categories include: values, realms or scales of inhabitation, and agents or users.

Equitable (E) Empowering citizens through safe, affordable, and accessible living for all, demanding equity.

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

RE A L M S O F I N H ABITATION

AGEN TS

Unit (U)

Community Members

The private spaces only accessible to the inhabitants.

Current/future residents and local citizens need to be included in the design and planning process of the spaces they inhabit.

Building (Bldg)

Architects, Designers (Arch)

Structures housing two or more dwelling units with potentially shared access, circulation, services, and amenities.

Responsible for the design of the spaces we inhabit from the scale of the unit to the community.

Lot/Block (LB)

Landscape Architects, Urban Designers, Planners (LUP)

One or more buildings may exist within the same parcel. Multiple parcels may be organized as blocks. Shared elements may include pathways, sidewalks, streets, parking, outdoor spaces, open plazas, mixed uses.

Designing and planning outdoor settings from the scale of the building to the community.

Neighborhood (N)

Developers, Builders (Dev)

These segments of a town or city may have common boundaries, social or physical. Neighborhoods share infrastructure and common spaces as parks, schools, markets or other places for daily life.

Planning, financing, constructing and managing properties.

Community (C)

Institutions, Organizations (Org)

Several neighborhoods might make up a community. Communities are also defined by their values, culture, and traditions.

Non-profits or government institutions managing daily operations and/or supportive programs.

Digital/Programs (DP)

Legislators, Government (Gov)

The digital realm has become a critical connective element of our daily lives and serves as a place to learn, communicate, and connect with others.

Public officials responsible for determining zoning, laws, regulations and funding that impact holistic housing.

Federal, state and/or city funded programs that support housing and residents in daily operations.

Digital Designers, Programmers (UI/UX) Developing, coding and designing the software, user interfaces, experiences and data that support physical settings and programs.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

Classification & Mapping The chart on the opposite page presents the classification of design actions based on the defined categories. The adjacent diagram depicts actions within realms of inhabitation from the Unit to Digital /Programs. Some design actions exist solely in one realm while others span two or more.

Digital / Programs

9.2

10.1 10.2

9.1

Community

2.2

Neighborhood

3.2

3.1

3.3 4.2

Lot / Block

2.1 5.3 6.1 6.2 8.2 11.1

Building 2.3 7.2 7.3

8.1 11.2

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

8.3 6.3

4.1 7.1 12.3 12.1

Unit

11.3

10.3

4.3

1.1 1.2 1.3

5.2 9.3 5.1 12.2

D E S IG N A C T IONS

VALU ES

REALMS

AGEN TS

1.1 Enable Co- and Multi-generational Living 1.2 Propose Adaptable Spaces 1.3 Offer Smart Storage

E E W,E

U U U

Arch Arch Arch

2.1 Facilitate Friendly Interactions 2.2 Sync-up the Community 2.3 Open Sight Lines

W,E E E

Bldg, LB DP U, Bldg

Arch, LUP Org, UI/UX Arch

3.1 Promote Hybrid Neighborhoods 3.2 Weave in Parks & Plazas 3.3 Blend Civic Spaces into Daily Life

W,E W,S,E W,E

N N, C N, C

Arch, LUP, Gov Arch, LUP, Gov Arch, LUP, Gov

4.1 Respect Human Scale 4.2 Democratize the Street 4.3 Amplify Community Mobility

W,S W,E W,S,E

Bldg, LB, N N, C C

Arch, LUP, Gov Arch, LUP, Gov Arch, LUP, Gov

5.1 Foster Water Consciousness 5.2 Leverage Cross Breezes 5.3 Mind the Sun

S,E S,E S,E

Bldg, LB, N U, Bldg, LB Bldg, LB

Arch, LUP Arch Arch

6.1 Multiply Productive Lands 6.2 Redefine Waste 6.3 Spark Skill-sharing

S,E S,E E

Bldg, LB, N Bldg, LB Bldg

Arch, LUP Arch, Org, Gov Arch

7.1 Power Active Lifestyles 7.2 Provide Lānais for All 7.3 Protect Views & Privacy

W,E S,E E

Bldg, LB, N U, Bldg U, Bldg

Arch, LUP Arch Arch

8.1 Source Regional Materials 8.2 Aim for Efficiency 8.3 Anticipate Future Change

S,E S,E S,E

U, Bldg Bldg, LB Bldg

Arch, LUP, Dev Arch, LUP, Dev Arch, Dev

9.1 Ensure Accessible Equity 9.2 Bridge the Gap 9.3 Activate Micro-businesses

E E E

DP DP U, Bldg, LB

Org, Gov Org, Gov Arch, Org, Gov

10.1 Track Housing Availability 10.2 Streamline Household Management 10.3 Map Alternative Paths to Long-term Housing

E E E

DP DP DP

Org, UI/UX Org, UI/UX Org, Gov, UI/UX

11.1 Set Aside Flex Space 11.2 Prioritize Flexibility & Variety 11.3 Communicate in Multiple Languages

E S,E E

Bldg, LB U, Bldg Bldg, LB

Arch, LUP, Dev Arch, Dev Arch, UI/UX, Dev

12.1 Take Play Seriously 12.2 Support Aging in Place 12.3 Welcome People of All Abilities

W,E W,E W,E

Bldg, LB, N, C U, Bldg, LB, N Bldg, LB, N

Arch, LUP, Dev Arch, LUP, Dev, Org, Gov Arch, LUP, Dev, Org, Gov

Holistic Housing Design Framework

How-To Guide

Design Strategy 12 Design Strategies that support Holistic Housing

Well-being Considerations Each strategy is supported by a series of considerations that address physical, mental, and social well-being. These insights guide design approaches toward more responsive, inclusive, and sustainable living environments.

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

Design Action There are three design actions per Design Strategy. Each shows illustrated examples and recommendations.

Inspiration Case Study Local and global projects serve as case studies exemplifying the potential of each design action.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

HOLISTIC HOUSING DESIGN FRAMEWORK DESIGN STRATEGY:

Plan for Change Families move frequently, and household sizes change. Flexible living spaces support these and many other life transitions.

WELL-BEING CONSIDERATIONS:

Spatial Privacy

Daily Transitions

Keeping Order

Homes benefit from layouts that support privacy, separation, and well-being. As households grow more diverse, dwellings must allow occupants to retreat, focus, rest, or decompress without interfering with one another’s daily routines.

Contemporary homes increasingly support work, learning, rest, and social life within limited space. This shift highlights the need for adaptable rooms and furnishings that can transition easily between multiple functions throughout the day.

Well-being at home is closely linked to organization and ease of maintenance. Adequate storage, reduced clutter, and multi-functional furniture support cleanliness, flexibility, and the smooth management of everyday routines and belongings.

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

Mom, Dad, Keiki

Cousin

Auntie

DESIGN ACTION:

1.1

Enable co- and multi-generational living Generous shared spaces and common amenities support comfortable co-living and multi-generational households. Plan for multiple entryways, cooking zones, bedrooms, and bathrooms to allow for privacy and independence or to accommodate isolation needs.

CASE STUDY 01:

Phoenix Commons is a 55+ co-housing community, designed by Zimmerman and Associates, on the Oakland, California waterfront.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

Bedroom

Living

Bedroom

DESIGN ACTION:

1.2

Propose adaptable spaces Open floor plans and movable elements allow residents to organize their spaces to accommodate changing needs. Spaces should be designed to host multiple functions, allow alternative sleeping arrangements, or acoustical separations.

CASE STUDY 02:

ORI, a collection of products designed to optimize small living spaces developed by the MIT Media Lab, makes it easy for a bedroom to transform into a working area or an exercise space.

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

Slippers & Mail

Built-in furniture

DESIGN ACTION:

1.3

Offer smart storage Adjustable, built-in elements make moving easy and provide a more flexible living space within compact footprints. Consider a variety of storage and built-in options such as closets, nooks, hanging shelves, and Murphy beds, as well as expanded entryways that can accommodate slippers, packages, and decontamination routines.

CASE STUDY 03:

Carmel Place, a prototypical micro-unit project for small households in New York City designed by nArchitects combines shared amenities, movable furniture, and compact living.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

HOLISTIC HOUSING DESIGN FRAMEWORK DESIGN STRATEGY:

Connect Neighbors Tight-knit communities create a sense of belonging and networks of support that provide a long-time benefit to residents.

WELL-BEING CONSIDERATIONS:

Nearby Connections

Clear Communication

Neighborhood Awareness

As daily life becomes more localized, neighbors often form an important layer of social support. Shared outdoor and semipublic spaces can foster casual interaction, mutual care, and everyday assistance while strengthening social bonds close to home.

Well-being in neighborhoods depends on access to clear, timely, and understandable information. Housing and community environments should support easy communication, helping residents stay informed, coordinated, and aware of shared resources and expectations.

The ability to observe movement and activity near the home supports a sense of comfort and awareness. Visual connections to streets, entries, and shared spaces help residents monitor deliveries, coordinate use of common areas, and stay connected to daily neighborhood rhythms.

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

DESIGN ACTION:

2.1

Facilitate friendly interactions A variety of spaces can enrich neighborly relations and allow for improvised and dynamic conversations. Include shared spaces at both the scales of building and block. Consider outdoor scenarios, such as common lānais, porches, and other sitting or playing areas.

CASE STUDY 04:

Williams Terrace Senior Housing, an affordable housing project in Charleston, South Carolina designed by David Baker Architects, introduces deep porches with outdoor seating and a rooftop community room to encourage interaction among residents.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

DESIGN ACTION:

2.2

Sync-up the community Social platforms keep neighbors updated on current issues, community events, and resource availability. Provide digital opportunities for sharing real-time information about daily activities within buildings and neighborhoods.

CASE STUDY 31:

Borigo is a neighborhood app for cities in Denmark that allows communication, access to shared facilities, reservations, and neighborhood announcements.

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

DESIGN ACTION:

2.3

Open sight lines While maintaining privacy, direct sight-lines onto common spaces and access points improve the sense of security. Configure buildings and units to allow for uninterrupted views to the street and other public or semi-public areas.

CASE STUDY 05:

Blackbirds is a cluster of 18 residences built around a living street designed by Bestor Architecture in Los Angeles, California. These buildings surround a blend of private, semi-private and public space that serves community functions and play.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

HOLISTIC HOUSING DESIGN FRAMEWORK DESIGN STRATEGY:

Mix Uses Housing in close proximity of amenities is highly valued for access, convenience, and time-savings.

WELL-BEING CONSIDERATIONS:

Staying Local

Time Outdoors

Civic Flexibility

Everyday well-being is strengthened when essential goods, services, healthcare, and recreation are accessible within walking or biking distance. Proximity supports independence, equity, and daily movement, particularly for residents without access to a personal vehicle.

Access to outdoor spaces supports physical health, mental well-being, and social connection. Parks, sidewalks, and calm streets enable walking, exercise, and informal gathering, offering essential opportunities to be outside and engage with others beyond the home.

Open and civic spaces play a vital role in responding to changing community needs. Their adaptability allows them to support shared services, temporary programs, and public initiatives that strengthen resilience and collective care.

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

1/4 mile radius = 5 minute walk

DESIGN ACTION:

3.1

Promote hybrid neighborhoods The possibility of living, working, and playing within the same community increases productivity and reduces long commute times. Avoid isolating residential uses from other functions of the city. Plan a blend of small businesses, live-work opportunities, and other resources within walking distance.

CASE STUDY 06:

Westgate 1515, by Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects, serves as student housing for nearby UCLA and the Target store on the ground floor acts as a walkable, neighborhood amenity. Generous, well-equipped, communal courtyards and patios connect across multiple levels bringing residents together for events, bbq’s, and spontaneous get-togethers.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

1/4 mile radius = 5 minute walk

DESIGN ACTION:

3.2

Weave in parks and plazas Access to outdoor public spaces connects residents to nature, provides opportunities for social interaction, and improves physical and mental health. Reclaim under utilized spaces within every neighborhood for public parks, plazas, and gardens of all types.

CASE STUDY 26:

The 606, designed and planned by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates and Ross Barney Architects, is a linear park and bike path built upon an extant train line in Chicago, Illinois that connects multiple neighborhoods.

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

1/4 mile radius = 5 minute walk

DESIGN ACTION:

3.3

Blend civic spaces into daily life Civic spaces serve the community and provide a forum for celebrations, traditions, culture, freedom of speech, and other public events. Plan indoor and outdoor civic spaces that are approachable to all and can accommodate multiple uses, including emergency pop-ups.

CASE STUDY 07: Independence Library and Apartments is a mixed-use project in Chicago by John Ronan Architects that combines the civic program of a public library with affordable housing along a busy urban corridor.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

HOLISTIC HOUSING DESIGN FRAMEWORK DESIGN STRATEGY:

Put People First Design for people not cars by providing humanscaled streets, access to public transportation, shaded sidewalks, and safe bike networks.

WELL-BEING CONSIDERATIONS:

Active Edges

Shared Streets

Safe Mobility

Ground-floor businesses and housing benefit from direct street access that supports everyday exchange. Flexible curbside zones and adjacent outdoor areas can enhance local commerce, social interaction, and the vitality of streets designed at a human scale.

Streets designed for people prioritize walking, cycling, and everyday activity over vehicle throughput. Expanded pedestrian space supports movement, social life, and outdoor use, reinforcing streets as shared public environments rather than traffic corridors.

Well-being depends on safe, accessible transportation options beyond private vehicles. Walkable routes, protected bike networks, and reliable public transit ensure people remain connected to services, work, and community—especially those without access to a car.

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

DESIGN ACTION:

4.1

Respect human scale Neighborhoods scaled to human dimensions create comfortable and inviting spaces. Carefully plan building proportions, streetwidth to building-height ratios, shading, vegetation, and ground floor functions, including small businesses, to contribute to a pleasant urban experience.

CASE STUDY 23:

Parking House, a parking structure in Copenhagen re-imagined by Jaja Architects, uses a gradient facade to respond to provide visual interest at ground level. Additional Inspiration: Places for People, a city program for Downtown Vancouver created by Gehl to improve public life based on how people use and feel about public spaces.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

Rural

Suburban

Urban 1

Urban 2

Urban 3

DESIGN ACTION:

4.2

Democratize the street Streets designed with pedestrians and cyclists in mind provide safe, active spaces for moving and socializing. Prioritize pedestrians and cyclists. Increase safe opportunities for moving on foot that encourage mobility and promote healthy lifestyles.

CASE STUDY 28:

16th Street Mall, once a heavy traffic street, was successfully transformed into a pedestrian promenade in downtown Denver, Colorado. Additional Inspiration: Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s “15-Minute City”: a vision for Paris, where everything essential to residents is accessible within 15 minutes.

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

1/4 mile radius = 5 minute walk

DESIGN ACTION:

4.3

Amplify community mobility A network of transportation options such as bus, rail, bike, and rideshare increases connectivity. Plan for safe, multimodal transportation services and spaces, where hubs serve as catalysts for public life.

CASE STUDY 32:

The Evaluation Rose, a planning tool for designing transportation hubs as meeting places designed by Gehl for the Region Skane in Sweden.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

HOLISTIC HOUSING DESIGN FRAMEWORK DESIGN STRATEGY:

Work with Nature Integrated natural cycles and passive strategies minimize environmental impact and maximize resources.

WELL-BEING CONSIDERATIONS:

Clean Water

Fresh Air

Access to the Sun

Healthy living environments depend on effective water management. Preventing standing water and managing flooding reduce exposure to mold, bacteria, and contaminants, supporting public health while protecting surrounding ecosystems and communities from long-term environmental risk.

Access to fresh air supports physical health and indoor comfort. Natural ventilation strategies improve air quality, reduce reliance on mechanical systems, and create healthier living environments by supporting airflow, temperature regulation, and overall well-being.

Regular access to sunlight contributes to physical and mental well-being. Daylight supports natural rhythms, comfort, and recovery while reducing energy demands, reinforcing the importance of orientation, shading, and passive design strategies in housing.

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

DESIGN ACTION:

5.1

Foster water consciousness Designs that integrate natural cycles for water regeneration throughout buildings and sites minimize environmental impacts and increase resiliency. Consider sustainable water inputs and outputs, as well as climate-related vulnerabilities while planning new developments or redesigning existing communities.

CASE STUDY 30:

NYCHA Red Hook Houses, a community affected by Hurricane Sandy in New York, was redesigned for resilience to future natural disasters, improved livability, and sustainability, by a team including KPF, OLIN, Arup, and others.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

Site

Buildings

Units

DESIGN ACTION:

5.2

Leverage cross breezes Site, building, and unit layouts that take advantage of cross breezes naturally cool interior spaces. Avoid climate-controlled inner hallways and provide cross ventilation for all spaces.

CASE STUDY 08:

Cloverdale 749, a 6-unit housing complex designed by Lorcan O’Herlihy in Los Angeles, California, celebrates indoor-outdoor thresholds through permeable layers.

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

DESIGN ACTION:

5.3

Mind the sun The building’s position and its materials or components contribute to the design of comfortable spaces and energy consumption/ generation. Orient buildings to minimize heat gain, provide shade, and maximize solar power generation or other sun benefits.

CASE STUDY 33:

SolarVille by Space10 and SANO in Copenhagen, is a working prototype miniature neighborhood promoting solar energy. Additional Inspiration: SPUR, the urban planning think tank, recently proposed a plan to jumpstart a green economic recovery while bringing solar installations to residences.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

HOLISTIC HOUSING DESIGN FRAMEWORK DESIGN STRATEGY:

Think Long Term Communities are empowered by opportunities to grow their own food, manage their consumption patterns, and gain new knowledge.

WELL-BEING CONSIDERATIONS:

Grown Your Own

Circular Use

Shared Skills

Communities are strengthened when residents can grow and access food locally. Home gardens, shared growing spaces, and edible landscapes support food security, self-sufficiency, and a deeper connection between people, place, and everyday nourishment.

Long-term resilience depends on reducing waste and managing resources thoughtfully. Awareness of material cycles, reuse, and recycling supports more efficient consumption patterns, reduces strain on supply systems, and encourages responsible stewardship of shared resources.

Communities thrive when knowledge and skills are shared. Learning, making, and teaching—from cooking to fabrication—build capacity, adaptability, and confidence, empowering people to respond creatively to everyday challenges and changing needs.

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

DESIGN ACTION:

6.1

Multiply productive lands Gardens allow residents to grow and share the food they produce and foster community interaction. Provide spaces for growing at all scales, including homes and neighborhoods, such as planting beds, greenhouses, community gardens, and orchards.

CASE STUDY 09:

Regen Village, a design proposal for off-the-grid communities designed by Effekt for Almere, Netherlands, combines a variety of innovative techniques such as high-yield organic food production, vertical farming, aquaponics/ aeroponics, water management, and waste water-to-resource systems.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

DESIGN ACTION:

6.2

Redefine waste Reducing, reusing, and recycling minimize waste and extend the life of existing products and buildings. Design for known material flows, provide adequate space for waste collection, separation, and management, including opportunities for composting, and support adaptable reuse projects.

CASE STUDY 35:

Zero Waste Design Guidelines Design Strategies and Case Studies for a Zero Waste City

With support from

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

Zero Waste Design Guidelines for the city of New York developed by a coalition of design organizations, including Kiss + Cathcart Architects, propose waste as a resource rather than trash and encourage circular material flows.

Think

Make

DESIGN ACTION:

6.3

Spark skill-sharing Learning opportunities allow residents to remain active and connected to their communities as life circumstances change. Consider spaces that can facilitate these activities such as classrooms/maker spaces and support lessons or training programs that allow residents to teach or learn from each other.

CASE STUDY 10:

Richardson Apartments by David Baker Architects in San Francisco, California, provide permanent supportive housing for low-income, formerly homeless people. It includes a residents lounge, a flexible community space and comprehensive social services.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

HOLISTIC HOUSING DESIGN FRAMEWORK DESIGN STRATEGY:

Nurture Healthy Citizens The design of buildings and spaces influences the mental and physical wellbeing of its inhabitants.

WELL-BEING CONSIDERATIONS:

Active Living

Your Own Outdoors

Comfortable Distance

Design that encourages everyday movement supports both physical and mental health. Walkable layouts, accessible stairs, and spaces for exercise help integrate activity into daily routines, promoting long-term well-being and healthy habits.

Access to personal outdoor spaces supports comfort, reflection, and connection to the environment. Balconies, patios, porches, and terraces extend living areas outdoors, offering fresh air, daylight, and moments of retreat within the home.

Healthy environments balance connection and separation. Thoughtful spatial layouts allow people to maintain personal comfort, reduce stress, and support well-being by providing adequate distance between living, working, and social areas within and around the home.

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

DESIGN ACTION:

7.1

Power active lifestyles Easy and accessible opportunities to exercise outdoors promote health and wellbeing. Design spaces that allow residents to play, walk, run, and bike within walking distance of their homes.

CASE STUDY 11:

8 House, designed by Bjarke Ingels Group, is a housing complex in Copenhagen that includes a promenade and cycle track.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

DESIGN ACTION:

7.2

Provide lānais for all Outdoor living is an integral part of Hawai‘i’s culture. Units with lānais provide residents with indoor/outdoor experiences, views, and fresh air. Consider outdoor spaces as essential for all residents.

CASE STUDY 12:

Vertical Forest, by Stefano Boeri, is a prototypical building in Milan that houses the equivalent of 30,000 square meters of woodland and 50,000 square meters of single-family houses in just 3000 square meters of urban fabric. Terraces and other outdoor spaces are provided for its residents.

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

DESIGN ACTION:

7.3

Protect views and privacy Balconies are spaces in between private and public realms, offering views of the sky or surroundings, but where residents still feel a need for privacy. Consider physical and acoustical boundaries between spaces and units such as privacy walls, sunshades, planters, or trellises that allow privacy while maintaining views.

CASE STUDY 13:

Mountain Dwellings, by JDS Architects in Copenhagen is a mid-rise, 80-unit housing and parking development using architectural form to provide ground and sky access for all units while being mindful of privacy.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

HOLISTIC HOUSING DESIGN FRAMEWORK DESIGN STRATEGY:

Build Responsibly Materials and construction methods impact the cost and long-term resiliency of buildings.

WELL-BEING CONSIDERATIONS:

Local Materials

Distributed Construction

Adaptive Reuse

Using locally sourced materials supports regional economies, reduces transportation impacts, and strengthens supply reliability. Building with nearby resources fosters environmental responsibility while increasing resilience and responsiveness to local conditions and constraints.

Construction methods that distribute labor and fabrication can improve efficiency, safety, and quality. Prefabrication and modular strategies allow better-controlled environments, reduce on-site intensity, and support more adaptable and resilient building processes.

As living and working patterns evolve, buildings must accommodate change. Designing spaces to be convertible and reusable allows underutilized structures to be re-imagined over time, extending building life cycles and supporting long-term flexibility.

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

DESIGN ACTION:

8.1

Source regional materials Materials sourced regionally and locally decrease construction costs and carbon emissions. Specify local, regional, and sustainably harvested materials. Re-imagine material logistics to reduce supply chains.

CASE STUDY 14:

Wood Housing Seestadt Aspern, by Berger + Parkkinen + Querkraft, is a 213 unit residential development in Vienna, Austria that celebrates natural and local materials in its prefabricated construction elements.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

DESIGN ACTION:

8.2

Aim for efficiency Carefully planned construction processes and locally appropriate building techniques provide easy, cost-effective construction and long-term maintenance solutions. Rethink construction processes to reduce material costs and timelines. Design with local trades and labor in mind. Consider the prefabrication of building components off-site to save time and reduce waste.

CASE STUDY 36 & 16:

Modular housing manufacturer Factory OS in California is working to reinvigorate factory-made housing as a solution to the state’s housing affordability woes. Additional Inspiration: Tahanan Supportive Housing project by David Baker Architects are modular apartments for the formerly homeless built by Factory OS in San Francisco.

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

DESIGN ACTION:

8.3

Anticipate future change Buildings designed with flexibility in mind facilitate adaptive reuse and serve communities longer. Plan for spaces, circulation, and structural systems that are able to respond to future needs and uses.

CASE STUDY 17:

The Rosalind Franklin Residence, by Bruther and Baukunst, on the EPA Paris-Saclay campus was built with 192 dorms and two levels of parking that hold 425 spaces that can be converted into more housing or into office space depending on the future needs of the university. A ground floor contains retail units, communal spaces for students, and an open courtyard for the university.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

HOLISTIC HOUSING DESIGN FRAMEWORK DESIGN STRATEGY:

Expand Economic Opportunities Alternative rent systems, financial assistance, and income opportunities aid residents in their financial journey

WELL-BEING CONSIDERATIONS:

Delayed Homeownership

Housing Security

Income Flexibility

Shifts in economic conditions have caused many households to postpone homeownership. Flexible housing pathways, incremental ownership models, and alternative tenure options can help residents navigate changing financial circumstances while maintaining access to stable, long-term housing.

Long-term well-being depends on stable and predictable housing conditions. Financial assistance, rental flexibility, and supportive policies can help residents manage uncertainty, reduce displacement risk, and build confidence in their ability to remain housed over time.

As employment patterns diversify, housing must support multiple income strategies. Spaces that accommodate homebased work, small enterprises, and supplemental activities help residents adapt economically and expand opportunities within their living environments.

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

DESIGN ACTION:

9.1

Ensure accessible equity Alternative systems such as rent-based investment, enable ownership opportunities for more citizens. Provide alternative paths towards owning.

CASE STUDY 37:

Kapolei Ho’olimalima, is a Rent-WithOption-To-Purchase pilot program that provides tenants an option to purchase the house after 15 years, developed for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

DESIGN ACTION:

9.2

Bridge the gap Residents might need help keeping a roof over their head in moments of crisis. To prevent homelessness, create programs that offer just-in-time financial assistance programs in critical moments of need.

CASE STUDY 38:

AirBnB Open Homes, is a program that allows hosts to offer their space for free to others going during difficult times, such as medical stays, housing refugees and disaster relief.

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

DESIGN ACTION:

9.3

Activate micro-businesses Live/work units and affordable multi-use spaces provide opportunities for generating income in the neighborhood. Provide spaces for both living and working conditions with options for public and private access. Offer flexible spaces that can serve small businesses and start-ups.

CASE STUDY 18:

Ola Ka ‘Ilima Artspace lofts, designed by Urban Works, is Hawaii’s first affordable live/work housing for low-income artists and their families. Additional Inspiration: Accessory Commercial Units (ACUs) similar to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are small commercial spaces on residential blocks. Legalizing these small structures would require changes to most local zoning codes. OLA KA `ILIMA ARTSPACE LOFTS

Holistic Housing Design Framework

HOLISTIC HOUSING DESIGN FRAMEWORK DESIGN STRATEGY:

Make Data Accessible Data helps residents make informed decisions, simplifies household chores, and offers equal access to services.

WELL-BEING CONSIDERATIONS:

Easy Decisions

Everyday Access

Financial Confidence

When housing information is clear and easy to understand, residents can make decisions with less stress. Simple, transparent processes for leasing and renewal support confidence, reduce anxiety, and help people focus on everyday life rather than paperwork.

Well-being improves when routine tasks are easy to manage. Accessible digital options for payments, services, and communication help residents save time, avoid unnecessary friction, and stay connected to essential housing functions.

Access to clear financial information supports peace of mind. When costs, requirements, and options are transparent, residents can plan ahead, understand their choices, and make decisions that support long-term stability and well-being.

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

DESIGN ACTION:

10.1

Track housing availability Mobile apps provide future residents with live updates on housing availability and cost. Integrate property management software to share occupancy rates, collect and track rental payments, and make new rental applications and renewals easy.

CASE STUDY 39:

Find HCV Housing, a program by the Chicago Housing Authority, is a platform for finding affordable rentals including Section 8 vouchers and affordable market rate housing.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

DESIGN ACTION:

10.2

Streamline household management Digital dashboards improve communication with property managers and maintenance. Offer residents digital methods to request detailed maintenance repairs, track inspections, energy use or other living needs.

CASE STUDY 40:

My NYCHA Developments, a portal from the NYC Housing Authority website, facilitates access to work orders and outages per property.

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

DESIGN ACTION:

10.3

Map alternative paths to long-term housing Action plans with a step-by-step process to owning a home help residents set and achieve goals. Develop digital applications that demystify the complex process of owning a home in Hawai‘i.

CASE STUDY 41:

Landed is a program that helps essential professionals buy homes and build financial security by providing down payment assistance, a partner agent, and educational resources. Additional Inspiration: Digs is an app that helps people plan financial decisions around housing.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

HOLISTIC HOUSING DESIGN FRAMEWORK DESIGN STRATEGY:

Develop Diversity In housing, one solution does not fit all.

WELL-BEING CONSIDERATIONS:

Other Spaces

Housing Choice

Multilingual

Homes and neighborhoods must support a range of daily activities, cultural practices, and forms of recreation. Access to shared amenities— indoors and outdoors— helps residents sustain traditions, creativity, and well-being, while addressing longstanding disparities in access and opportunity.

Different households have different spatial needs that change over time. A diverse range of housing sizes, layouts, and living arrangements supports flexibility, affordability, and choice, allowing residents to find homes that align with their circumstances and ways of living.

Clear communication depends on accessibility. Providing information in multiple languages supports inclusion, understanding, and trust, ensuring residents from diverse backgrounds can engage fully with housing systems, services, and community resources.

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

DESIGN ACTION:

11.1

Set aside flex space Compact residences may not provide spaces for activities such as socializing, or other communal gatherings. Offer shared, multi-use spaces that accommodate these sort of activities and programs throughout the day for resident use without additional costs.

CASE STUDY 19:

MLK 1101 Supportive Housing, by LOH Architects, provides gathering spaces and a community room for residents to socialize.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

DESIGN ACTION:

11.2

Prioritize flexibility and variety Every household is different, and residents’ needs change over time. Plan a mix of unit types of different sizes and spatial organizations that can support a plurality of family types and evolving needs.

CASE STUDY 20:

11 NOHO, designed by Brooks + Scarpa, is organized around an expansive central courtyard. The five story structure holds 60 rental apartments with a great variety of floor plan sizes and layouts, all of which have private outdoor spaces and are passively cooled via cross ventilation.

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

DESIGN ACTION:

11.3

Communicate in multiple languages Multilingual signs communicate information to all. Design signage to be inclusive of all local cultures.

CASE STUDY 43:

Multilingual Signage, designed by Dotdash, is aimed at the Brisbane, Australia’s growing Asian population.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

HOLISTIC HOUSING DESIGN FRAMEWORK DESIGN STRATEGY:

Design for All Plan spaces and pathways for residents of all ages.

WELL-BEING CONSIDERATIONS:

Essential Play

Aging Well

Inclusive Movement

Opportunities for play support mental health, physical activity, and social connection across all ages. Accessible indoor and outdoor spaces—such as parks, playgrounds, sidewalks, and shared areas— enable movement, recreation, and informal gathering as part of daily life.

Design that supports older adults promotes independence, safety, and dignity. Walkable environments, nearby services, comfortable resting areas, and inclusive amenities help seniors remain active, connected, and supported within their homes and neighborhoods.

Cities designed for people prioritize safe, legible movement for all ages and abilities. Clear pathways, generous sidewalks, traffic calming, and visual cues support walking, biking, and rolling while balancing activity levels and protecting more vulnerable users.

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

DESIGN ACTION:

12.1

Take play seriously Recreation spaces tailored to the needs of all ages promote physical and cognitive strength. Re-think public space and provide the community with different kinds of spaces for all ages and activities.

CASE STUDY 25:

Park n’ Play, is a parking structure and playground, innovative infrastructure, and public amenity hybrid typology for Copenhagen by Jaja Architects.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

DESIGN ACTION:

12.2

Support aging in place Spaces and environments designed for all people, regardless of age, size, ability, or disability, improve quality of life. Design housing developments that are accessible, flexible, and in close proximity to amenities.

CASE STUDY 21 & 44:

Kampung Admiralty, designed by WOHA, is a one-stop integrated complex for meeting the needs of Singapore’s aging population. Additional Inspiration: NORCS (Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities): Some of the best retirement communities occur naturally, typically in denser, amenity-filled neighborhoods that allow seniors to access retail, services and importantly, people, easily.

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

Housing Park

Playground Garden

DESIGN ACTION:

12.3

Welcome people of all abilities Pathways and circulation designed for people of all abilities provide equal access to facilities and functions. Circulation spaces in both buildings and public spaces should accommodate all.

CASE STUDY 22:

Sweetwater Spectrum Center, designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects, is a project that addresses the needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorders, maximizing residents’ development and independence.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

SUMMARY

WELL-BEING CONSIDERATIONS

Holistic Housing Design Framework

• Spatial Privacy • Daily Transitions • Keeping Order

Five Guiding Principles, Twelve Design Strategies and Thirty-Six Design Actions for Holistic Housing informed by well-being considerations.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

I. Walkable, Sustainable, and Equitable II. Home is Everything

III. Closed Loops

IV. All Hands on Deck

V. Extreme Events

• Nearby Connections • Clear Communication • Neighborhood Awareness

• Staying Local • Time Outdoors • Civic Flexibility

• Active Edges • Streets for People • Safe Mobility

• Clean Water • Fresh Air • Access to the Sun

• Grow Your Own • Circular Use • Shared Skills

• Active Living • Your Own Outdoors • Comfortable Distance

• Local Materials • Distributed Construction • Adaptive Reuse

• Delayed Homeownership • Housing Security • Income Flexibility

• Easy Decisions • Everyday Access • Financial Confidence

• Other Spaces • Housing Choice • Multilingual

• Essential Play • Aging Well • Inclusive Movement

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

DESIGN STRATEGIES

DESIGN ACTIONS

Plan for Change

1.1 Enable Co- and Multi-generational Living 1.2 Propose Adaptable Spaces 1.3 Offer Smart Storage

Connect Neighbors

2.1 Facilitate Friendly Interactions 2.2 Sync-up the Community 2.3 Open Sight Lines

Mix Uses

3.1 Promote Hybrid Neighborhoods 3.2 Weave in Parks & Plazas 3.3 Blend Civic Spaces into Daily Life

Put People First

4.1 Respect Human Scale 4.2 Democratize the Street 4.3 Amplify Community Mobility

Work with Nature

5.1 Foster Water Consciousness 5.2 Leverage Cross Breezes 5.3 Mind the Sun

Think Long Term

6.1 Multiply Productive Lands 6.2 Redefine Waste 6.3 Spark Skill-sharing

Nurture Healthy Citizens

7.1 Power Active Lifestyles 7.2 Provide Lānais for All 7.3 Protect Views & Privacy

Build Responsibly

8.1 Source Regional Materials 8.2 Aim for Efficiency 8.3 Anticipate Future Change

Expand Economic Opportunities

9.1 Ensure Accessible Equity 9.2 Bridge the Gap 9.3 Activate Micro-businesses

Make Data Accessible

10.1 Track Housing Availability 10.2 Streamline Household Management 10.3 Map Alternative Paths to Long-term Housing

Develop Diversity

11.1 Set Aside Flex Space 11.2 Prioritize Flexibility & Variety 11.3 Communicate in Multiple Languages

Design for All

12.1 Take Play Seriously 12.2 Support Aging in Place 12.3 Welcome People of All Abilities

5 6

Holistic Housing Design Framework

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

HOLISTIC HOUSING DESIGN FRAMEWORK

Forty-Four Case Studies Spanning scales of inhabitation, case studies are clustered into four categories: •

Community/Neighborhood Infrastructures

•

Structures, Buildings, Interiors

•

Multi-Family Housing

•

Digital Applications, Tools, Prototypes, and Programs

Each case study is cross-referenced with one or more Design Actions.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

Case Studies & Design Actions 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44

C A S E STUDY

LOCATION

Phoenix Commons, Zimmerman + Associates ORI, MIT Media Lab Carmel Place, nArchitects Williams Terrace, David Baker Architects Blackbirds, Bestor Architecture Westgate 1515, Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects (LOHA) Independence Library and Apartments, John Ronan Architects Cloverdale 749, Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects (LOHA) ReGen Village, Effekt Richardson Apartments, David Baker Architects 8 House, Bjarke Ingles Group Vertical Forest, Stefano Boeri Mountain Dwellings, Bjarke Ingles Group Carbon 12, Kaiser Group and Path Architecture Wood Housing Seestadt Aspern, Berger+Parkkinen + Querkraft Tahanan Supportive Center, David Baker Architects Rosalind Franklin Residence, Bruther and Baukunst Ola Ka ‘Ilima Artspace Lofts, Urban Works MLK 1101 Supportive Housing, Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects (LOHA) 11 NOHO, Brooks + Scarpa Kampung Admiralty, WOHA Sweetwater Spectrum Center, Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects Parking House, Jaja Architects ACUs, Accessory Commercial Units Park n’ Play, Jaja Architects The 606, Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates & Ross Barney Architects Places for People, Gehl 16th Street Mall, Gehl 15 Minute City, Mayor Anne Hidalgo & Carlos Moreno NYCHA Red Hook Houses, KPF, OLIN, Arup, et all Borigo, Wicomico ApS, Mads Dreisig-Johansen + Asger Norskov Bak The Evaluation Rose, Gehl Solarville, Space10 + SANO SPUR: A No-Cost Rooftop Solar Stimulus Zero Waste Design Guidelines, Kiss + Cathcart Architects, et all Factory_OS Kapolei Ho‘olimalima, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands AirBnB Open Homes Find HCV Housing, Chicago Housing Authority My NYC Developments, NYC Housing Authority LANDED Digs, Ojo Multilingual Signage, Dotdash NORCs, Naturally occurring retirement communities

Oakland, CA New York, NY Charleston, SC Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles, CA Chicago, IL Los Angeles, CA Almere, Netherlands San Francisco, CA Copenhagen, Denmark Milan, Italy Copenhagen, Denmark Portland, OR Vienna, Austria San Francisco, CA Saclay, France Kaka’ako, Honolulu, HI Los Angeles, CA North Hollywood, CA Singapore Sonoma, CA Copenhagen, Denmark Copenhagen, Denmark

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

Chicago, IL Vancouver, Canada Denver, CO Paris, France New York, NY Denmark Region Skåne, Sweden Copenhagen, Denmark California New York, NY California Hawai‘i Chicago, IL New York, NY Brisbane, Australia -

C A T E G O R IE S

DE SI GN ACTION S

Multi-Family Residential

1.1, 2.1, 5.2, 7.2, 7.3, 12.2, 12.3 1.2, 1.3, 12.3 1.3, 2.1, 8.2, 11.1 2.1, 2.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 11.1 2.1, 2.3, 5.2, 7.3, 11.1 2.1, 2.3, 3.1, 3.3, 4.1, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 11.1, 11.2 3.1, 3.3, 11.1, 12.2, 12.3 5.2, 5.3, 7.2, 7.3 2.1, 3.2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2, 11.2 2.1, 3.1, 5.3, 6.3, 11.1, 12.2, 12.3 2.1, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 11.1, 11.2, 12.1 3.1, 5.1, 7.2, 7.3 3.1, 5.1, 5.3, 7.2, 7.3 1.2, 3.1, 7.2, 7.3, 8.1 2.1, 2.3, 3.1, 4.3, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 8.1, 8.2, 9.3, 11.2, 12.2 8.2, 11.1, 12.2, 12.3 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 8.3 3.1, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.3, 9.3, 11.1 2.1, 3.1, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.3, 11.1, 12.2, 12.3 2.1, 2.3, 3.1, 4.1, 5.2, 7.2, 7.3, 11.1, 11.2 3.1, 3.2, 11.1, 12.1, 12.2 1.1, 2.1, 2.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.3, 7.2, 11.1, 12.2, 12.3

Other Buildings

4.1 3.1, 4.1, 9.3 3.2, 7.1,12.1

Neighborhood Infrastructures

3.2, 4.3, 7.1 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 3.2, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 5.1

Digital, Programs, Others

2.2 4.3 5.3 5.3 6.2 8.2 9.1 9.2 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.3 11.3 12.2, 12.3

Holistic Housing Design Framework

How-To Guide

Project Data Category, location, year, dwelling units per acre, lot area, number of residential units, amenities and mixed use.

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

Reference Number, project name, and author.

Signature Image Selected representative photo, diagram, or rendering.

Description Project description from author and key attributes, relationship to context, values, and other relevant design aspects.

Related Design Actions Main design action highlighted in bold.

Other Additional images, credits and sources are listed in this section.

Holistic Housing Design Framework

1 Phoenix Commons by Zimmerman + Associates

Category:

Multi-Family Residential

Location:

Oakland, CA

Year:

2016

DU/Acre:

~68

Lot Area:

~26,300 sf / 0.60 acres

Units:

Unit Types:

1-bdr, 1-bdr+den, 2-bdr

Amenities:

Yes

Mixed Use:

DESCRIPTION

“The Phoenix Commons project is a 40+ unit senior housing project that aims to create a meaningful and rich sense of community and social interaction among residents. The project is a unique endeavor that combines several new and innovative solutions for housing the elderly with proven successful cooperative housing solutions. The intent is to create a building and community for seniors who might otherwise face isolation in non-senior friendly apartments leading to costly long-term medical needs. The project is intended to provide seniors an alternative housing type that is grounded in self-sufficiency, sustainability (both economically and environmentally), and the ability to age gracefully. By forming a community that fosters close relationships and constructing a building that enhances community and meets the needs of advanced age, Phoenix Commons will help seniors avoid institutionalization and expensive government sponsored services.” - Zimmerman + Associates KEY ATTRIBUTES

• Leverages adjacency to waterfront and neighborhood amenities • Universally designed to age in place • Abundant natural light and ventilation • Shared 7,000 sf flex space at ground including shared kitchen • Additional flex spaces, including guest suite for short term visitors • Private kitchens and bathrooms in all units DESIGN ACTIONS

1.1 2.1 5.2 7.2 7.3 12.2 12.3

Enable co- and multi-generational living Facilitate friendly interactions Leverage cross breezes Provide lānais for all Protect views & privacy Support aging in place Welcome people of all abilities

Source: http://zmanarch.com Photo credits: Treve Johnson

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

2 ORI by MIT Media Lab, Hasier Larrea

Category:

Multi-Family Residential

Location:

Various

Year:

2015

DESCRIPTION

“Ori’s system is an L-shaped unit installed on a track along a wall, so it can slide back and forth. One side features a closet, a small fold-out desk, and several drawers and large cubbies. At the bottom is a pull-out bed. The other side of the unit includes a horizontal surface that can open out to form a table. The vertical surface above that features a large nook where a television can be placed, and additional drawers and cubbies. The third side, opposite the wall, contains still more shelving, and pegs to hang coats and other items. Users control the unit through a control hub plugged into a wall, or through Ori’s mobile app or a smart home system, such as Amazon’s Echo.” - MIT News KEY ATTRIBUTES

• Movable, adaptable furniture that can expand the space of a room • Button and voice control commands • A variety of installations, including office, closet, bed, and studio DESIGN ACTIONS

1.2 1.3 12.3

Propose Adaptable Spaces Offer smart storage Welcome people of all abilities

Sources : https://news.mit. edu/2018/startup-ori-robotic-furniture-0131 https://www.oriliving.com/ Photo credits: ORI Systems

Holistic Housing Design Framework

3 Carmel Place by nArchitects

Category:

Multi-Family Residential

Location:

New York, NY

Year:

2016

DU/Acre:

~344

Lot Area: ~6,860 sf / 0.16 acres Units:

Unit Types:

Micro-units

Amenities:

Yes

Mixed Use:

Yes

DESCRIPTION

“Carmel Place was built in response to the current housing crisis facing New York. Part of the City’s New Housing Marketplace Plan, it was selected for construction through the adAPT NYC competition to address changing demographics, especially the trend towards small households. The project tests the viability of reducing the minimum size of apartment (from 400sf to 300sf) while balancing the need for greater social space. Fifty-five rental apartments, ranging in area from 260-360sf net, are complemented by generous shared amenities dispersed throughout the building, encouraging social interaction between neighbors. The apartment interiors offer abundant light, fresh air, high ceilings and significant storage space, demonstrating new possibilities for micro-living that, through thoughtful design, does not sacrifice quality of life. Carmel Place has been internationally celebrated as a new housing prototype, and for its groundbreaking use of modular construction.” - nArchitects KEY ATTRIBUTES

• Micro-units address the current housing crisis and balances the need for greater social spaces • Shared amenities dispersed throughout the building, encouraging social interaction (gym, roof deck, lounge, community room, and small garden). • Significant storage space within the unit and adjustable furniture • Prefabricated modular construction • Retail at ground floor DESIGN ACTIONS

1.3 2.1 8.2 11.1

Offer smart storage Facilitate friendly interactions Aim for efficiency Set aside flex space

Source: https://narchitects. com/work/carmel-place/ Photo credits: Iwan Baan, Pablo Enriquez, Field Condition

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

4 Williams Terrace by David Baker Architects

Category:

Multi-Family Residential

Location:

Charleston, SC

Year:

2017

DU/Acre:

~98

Lot Area:

18,274 sf / 1.09 acres

Units:

Unit Types:

1-bdr

Amenities:

Yes

Mixed Use:

DESCRIPTION

“Williams Terrace Senior Housing is the first dedicated housing for low-income seniors in the city of Charleston, South Carolina. DBA collaborated with local firm McMillan Pazdan Smith to create this gracious senior building, which finally replaces affordable family housing destroyed in a 1989 hurricane. The design team worked closely with the Housing Authority of the City of Charleston to create a dynamic building that meets the challenges of the site—located in a high-velocity flood zone—and respects the gracious built fabric of downtown historic Charleston. The building features external circulation—deep porches that create opportunities for connection and are lined with exterior seating to encourage interaction among the residents. The building’s units, porches, and rooftop terrace community room enjoy views across the new park toward the Charleston harbor.” - David Baker Architects KEY ATTRIBUTES

• Communal center courtyard • Wide, open porch circulation offers places to sit, meet in passing, and personalize a bit of outdoor space • Sliding shutters provide adjustable shading • Living area faces circulation, allowing for greater social interaction and ventilation • Breakaway ground floor for flooding events DESIGN ACTIONS

Source: https://www. dbarchitect.com/project_detail/176/Williams%20 Terrace%20.html

2.1 2.3 5.1 5.2 5.3 11.1

Facilitate friendly interactions Open sight lines Foster water consciousness Leverage cross breezes Mind the sun Set aside flex space

Photo credits: Chris Luker

Holistic Housing Design Framework

5 Blackbirds by Bestor Architecture

Category:

Multi-Family Residential

Location:

Los Angeles, CA

Year:

2015

DU/Acre:

~23

Lot Area:

34,560 sf / 0.79 acres

Units:

Unit Types:

2-bdr, 3-bdr

Amenities:

Yes

Mixed Use:

DESCRIPTION

“Eighteen homes cluster on an .82 acre site in the hills of L.A.’s Echo Park, presenting a high-quality design strategy for addressing the need to densify urban housing. The two- and three-bedroom houses are all under 1,920 sf and are organized around a ‘living street’: a central landscaped courtyard that can shift in use diurnally and seasonally, from parking to basic recreation to organized community functions, while providing a locus for neighbor interactions between public and semi-private spaces. The placement of the houses amid the hilly site contours invokes the early 20th century craftsman cabins of the area, and deploys a strategy of “stealth density”, combining several houses into a single house-shaped volume which reinforces the small-village context.” Bestor Architecture KEY ATTRIBUTES

• Living street with a centralized landscaped courtyard that can accommodate parking, basic recreation, and organized community functions • Several houses combined into a single house-shaped volume to reinforce small-village context • The community is a thoughtful blend of private, semi-private and public space DESIGN ACTIONS

2.1 2.3 5.2 7.3 11.1

Facilitate friendly interactions Open sight lines Leverage cross breezes Protect views & privacy Set aside flex space

Source: https://bestorarchitecture.com/portfolio-2/ project-one-2f6hk-dsebk Photo credits: Iwan Baan

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

6 Westgate 1515 by Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects (LOHA)

Category:

Multi-Family Residential

Location:

Los Angeles, California

Year:

2019

DU/Acre:

~113.1

Lot Area:

~56,700 sf / 1.3 acres

Units:

147

Unit Types:

Studios, 1-bdr, 2-bdr

Amenities:

Yes

Mixed Use:

Yes

DESCRIPTION

“In an effort to create an urban anchor and village-like presence in this fast-paced neighborhood, we designed our Westgate1515 project to break down the scale of a typical housing project and to incorporate residential, community green spaces, and an enhanced public plaza. The 335,000 sf project that encompasses an entire city block, once the site of a former car dealership, now serves as a model for denser, mixed-use developments that combine essential housing with a larger civic purpose. Westgate1515’s varied roof heights and common outdoor spaces at all levels, break up the 300-foot long Santa Monica Blvd facade. Additionally, the placement of strategic voids throughout help to insert public space into the private development, and carve out zones for pedestrian activity along the retail and commercial ground floor.” - LOHA KEY ATTRIBUTES

• 42,000 sf of commercial space • Connected courtyard with shared outdoor terraces • An “Urban Village” concept strives to create a lively pedestrian streetscape through an active street-front • Placement of strategic voids throughout help to insert public space into the private development • 335,000 sf of built space with 22,800 sf of open space DESIGN ACTIONS

Sources: http://loharchitects. com/work/westgate1515 https://www.dezeen. com/2021/04/19/ loha-westgate1515-student-housing-los-angeles/

2.1 2.3 3.1 3.3 4.1

Facilitate friendly interactions Open sight lines Promote hybrid neighborhoods Blend civic spaces into daily life Respect human scale

5.1 5.2 5.3 11.1 11.2

Foster water consciousness Leverage cross breezes Mind the sun Set aside flex space Prioritize flexibility & variety

Photo credits: Paul Vu and LOHA

Holistic Housing Design Framework

7 Independence Library and Apartments by John Ronan Architects

Category:

Multi-Family Residential

Location:

Chicago, IL

Year:

2019

DU/Acre:

~85

Lot Area: ~ 20,535 sf / 0.47 acres Units:

Unit Types:

1-bdr, 2-bdr

Amenities:

Yes

Mixed Use:

Yes

DESCRIPTION

“This 65,000 sf hybrid library/affordable housing project in Chicago combines a 16,000 square foot branch library with a 40-unit affordable housing development. The two-story library supports reading and learning areas for all age groups, as well as a large community multi-purpose room which supports public lectures, gatherings, and events. The second floor of the library looks out over a large roof garden which covers the parking lot below and serves as an outdoor amenity space for the housing residents. Housing units all feature outdoor colored balconies spaces which speak to individual identity.” - John Ronan Architects KEY ATTRIBUTES

• The library provides an opportunity for learning and connects residents to the community • All apartments feature brightly-colored entries and balconies, enabling residents to identify their house from the street • Building amenities include shared roof terrace, fitness room, and laundry room DESIGN ACTIONS

3.1 3.3 11.1 12.2 12.3

Promote hybrid neighborhoods Blend Civic Spaces into daily life Set aside flex space Support aging in place Welcome people of all abilities

Sources: http://www.jrarch. com/independence-library-and-apartments-11 https://www.archdaily. com/927467/independence-library-and-apartments-john-ronan-architects Photo credits: James Florio

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

8 Cloverdale 749 by Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects

Category:

Multi-Family Residential

Location:

Los Angeles, CA

Year:

2015

DU/Acre:

~43

Lot Area:

~6,000 sf / 0.14 acres

Units:

Unit Types:

2-bdr

Amenities:

Mixed Use:

DESCRIPTION

“On a constricted site in L.A.’s culturally–significant Miracle Mile hub, home to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the La Brea Tar Pits, and many noteworthy cultural destinations, LOHA’s Cloverdale749 explores the threshold between the building envelope and the street, establishing a veil of transformable layers that promotes a hybridized relationship between the private and public spheres. The blurring of interior and exterior spaces is integral to the design and, dependent on viewing and lighting angles, the building’s sheathing reveals and conceals patios. Private open balconies front the street while the rooftop offers decks overlooking the city. In line with several passively sustainable strategies in the building, LOHA pushed the circulation to the exterior to eliminate the need for climate-controlled inner hallways. The exterior cladding helps reduce the solar heat load on the building and its energy expenditures for cooling.” - Lorcan O’Herlihy KEY ATTRIBUTES

• Promotes a hybridized relationship between the private and public spheres • Circulation is pushed to the exterior to eliminate the need for climate-controlled inner hallways • Exterior cladding helps reduce the solar heat load on the building and its energy expenditures for cooling • Varied levels of permeability of the facade and volumes created varied experience of privacy DESIGN ACTIONS

Sources: http://loharchitects. com/work/cloverdale749

5.2 5.3 7.2 7.3

Leverage cross-breezes Mind the sun Provide lānais for all Protect views & privacy

https://www.archdaily. com/555149/cloverdale749-loha-architects Photo credit: Lawrence Anderson

Holistic Housing Design Framework

9 ReGen Village by Effekt

Category:

Multi-Family Residential

Location:

Almere, Netherlands

Year:

Concept 2016, Unbuilt

DU/Acre:

~6.5

Area:

~ 166,840 sf / 3.83 acres

Units:

Unit Types:

8 different typologies

Amenities:

Yes

Mixed Use:

Yes (urban farming)

DESCRIPTION

“ReGen Villages is a new visionary model for the development of off-grid, integrated, and resilient eco-villages that can power and feed self-reliant families around the world. ReGen stands for regenerative, where the outputs of one system are the inputs of another. The concept has a holistic approach and combines a variety of innovative technologies, such as energy positive homes, renewable energy, energy storage, door-step high-yield organic food production, vertical farming aquaponics/aeroponics, water management, and waste-to-resource systems. ReGen Villages is all about applied technology. Already existing technologies are simply being applied into an integrated community design, providing clean energy, water, and food right off the doorstep. ReGen Villages adds not only environmental and financial value, but also social value, by creating a framework for empowering families and developing a sense of community, where people become part of a shared local eco-system: reconnecting people with nature and consumption with production.” - Effekt KEY ATTRIBUTES

• Proposes a circular economy • Application of technologies, such as renewable energy, vertical farming, and water management • Community layers in social spaces, green spaces, food production, infrastructure, climate zones with housing • Each house is enclosed with a greenhouse and terrace space, blending the indoor and outdoor spaces, and utilize passive heating and natural ventilation DESIGN ACTIONS

2.1 3.2 5.1 5.2

Facilitate friendly interactions Weave in parks & plazas Foster water consciousness Leverage cross breezes

5.3 6.1 6.2 11.2

Mind the sun Multiply productive lands Redefine waste Prioritize flexibility & variety

Source: https://www.effekt. dk/regenvillages https://www.regenvillages. com/# Image credits: Effekt Architects

100

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

10 Richardson Apartments by David Baker Architects

Category:

Multi-Family Residential

Location:

San Francisco, CA

Year:

2011

DU/Acre:

~279

Lot Area:

~18,906 sf / 0.43 acres

Units:

120

Unit Types:

Studio

Amenities:

Yes

Mixed Use:

Yes

DESCRIPTION

“David Baker + Partners worked with Community Housing Partnership and Mercy Housing California to develop the Drs. Julian & Raye Richardson Apartments, which will provide 120 permanent, supportive residential studio units for adult residents coming out of or at risk for homelessness. Each unit is approximately 300sf and is provided with basic furnishings, a full kitchenette, an accessible or adaptable bathroom, and a secure telephone line to the front desk. The corner retail space is slated for BakeWorks, a bakery featuring a work-training program and an employment program available for residents, and other ground-level retail spaces maintain an active street edge and connect the building to the busy Hayes Street retail corridor.” - David Baker Architects KEY ATTRIBUTES

• An open grand staircase connecting the first through fifth floor levels reduces reliance on the elevator and encourages interaction between residents. • The building responds to the existing fabric of the neighborhood by varying the colors, materials and heights on its facade to suggest a collection of more modest related structures. • One retail space is dedicated to a work-training program for residents. • Other supportive services and features include a counseling center and a residents’ lounge, as well as a prominent community room. Additionally there is dedicated on-site medical suite reserved for resident care. DESIGN ACTIONS

Source: www.dbarchitect. com/RichardsonApartments

2.1 3.1 5.3 6.3 11.1 12.2 12.3

Facilitate friendly interactions Promote hybrid neighborhoods Mind the sun Spark skill-sharing Set aside flex space Support aging in place Welcome people of all abilities

Photo credits: Bruce Damonte, Matthew Millman

Holistic Housing Design Framework

101

11 8 House by Bjarke Ingles Group (BIG)

Category:

Multi-Family Residential

Location:

Copenhagen, Denmark

Year:

2010

DU/Acre:

~75

Lot Area:

~277,230 sf / 6,36 acres

Units:

475

Unit Types:

Various

Amenities:

Yes

Mixed Use:

Yes

DESCRIPTION

“With 475 units with a variety of sizes and layouts, the building meets the needs of people in all of life’s stages: young and old; nuclear families and single people; families that grow and families that become smaller. The bow-shaped building creates two distinct spaces, separated by the center of the bow which host the commercial facilities of 5300 sf. At the very same spot the building is penetrated by a 30 ft wide passage that connects two surrounding city spaces: the park area to the west and the channel area to the east. Instead of dividing the different functions of the building — for both habitation and trades— in separate blocks, they have been spread out horizontally. The apartments are placed at the top , while the commercial program unfolds at the base of the building. As a result the apartments benefit from the sunlight, fresh air, and the view while the commercial spaces merge life on the street.” - BIG KEY ATTRIBUTES

• A continuous public path stretches from street level to the penthouses and allows people to bike all the way from the ground floor to the top • Retail faces the street, the offices towards northern light, and the residences with sun and views to the open spaces • Two sloping green roofs are strategically placed to reduce the urban heat island effect as well as to visually tie it back to the adjacent farmlands towards the south DESIGN ACTIONS

2.1 2.3 3.1 3.2 4.3 5.1 5.2 5.3

102

Facilitate friendly interactions Open sight lines Promote hybrid neighborhoods Weave in parks & plazas Amplify community mobility Foster water consciousness Leverage cross breezes Mind the sun

6.1 7.1 7.2 7.3 11.1 11.2 12.1

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

Multiply productive lands Power active lifestyles Provide lānais for all Protect views & privacy Set aside flex space Prioritize flexibility & variety Take play seriously

Sources: https://big. dk/#projects-8 https://www.archdaily. com/83307/8-house-big https://www.architonic.com/ en/project/big-bjarke-ingelsgroup-8-house/5101529 Photo credits: Jens Lindhe and Ty Stange

12 Vertical Forest by Stefano Boeri

Category:

Multi-Family Residential

Location:

Milan, Italy

Year:

2014

DU/Acre:

~235

Lot Area:

~74,200 sf / 1.70 acres

Units:

400 (two towers)

Unit Types:

1 bdr, 2bdr, 3bdr

Amenities:

Yes

Mixed Use:

Yes

DESCRIPTION

“The Vertical Forest (Bosco Verticale) is the prototype building for a new format of architectural biodiversity which focuses not only on human beings but also on the relationship between humans and other living species. The concept behind the Vertical Forest, that of being a ‘home for trees that also houses humans and birds’, defines not only the urban and technological characteristics of the project but also the architectural language and its expressive qualities. On a formal level, the towers are mainly characterized by large, staggered and overhanging balconies (each about three meters), designed to accommodate large external tubs for vegetation and to allow the growth of larger trees without hindrance, even over three floors of the building.” - Boeri Studio KEY ATTRIBUTES

• Two towers at 26 and 18 stories, plus an 11-story office building • Houses an equivalent of 30,000 square meters of woodland: 800 trees, 15,000 perennials and/or ground covering plants and 5,000 shrubs • This green curtain “regulates” humidity, produces oxygen and absorbs CO2 and micro-particles • The towers are mainly characterized by large, staggered and overhanging balconies (each about three meters), designed to accommodate large external tubs for vegetation and to allow the growth of larger trees without hindrance DESIGN ACTIONS

3.1 5.1 7.2 7.3

Promote hybrid neighborhoods Foster water consciousness Provide lānais for all Protect views & privacy

Photo: Dimitar Harizanov Source: https://www. stefanoboeriarchitetti.net/en/ project/vertical-forest/

Holistic Housing Design Framework

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13 Mountain Dwellings by JDS Architects + Bjarke Ingles Group (BIG)

Category:

Multi-Family Residential

Location:

Copenhagen, Denmark

Year:

2008

DU/Acre:

~38

Lot Area:

~90,000 sf / 2.1 acres

Units:

Unit Types:

1-bdr, 2-bdr

Amenities:

Mixed Use:

Yes

DESCRIPTION

“The program is 2/3 parking and 1/3 living. What if the parking area became the base upon which to place terraced housing - like a concrete hillside covered by a thin layer of housing, cascading from the 11th floor to the street edge? Rather than doing two separate buildings next to each other — a parking and a housing block — we decided to merge the two functions into a symbiotic relationship. The parking area needs to be connected to the street, and the homes require sunlight, fresh air, and views; thus all apartments have roof gardens facing the sun, amazing views, and parking on the 10th floor. The Mountain Dwellings appear as a suburban neighborhood of garden homes flowing over a 10-storey building — suburban living with urban density. The mountain includes a number of sustainable technologies.” - BIG KEY ATTRIBUTES

• Terraced parking acts as a concrete hillside, allowing for all apartments have roof gardens facing the sun, and views • The only thing that separates the apartment and the garden is a glass facade with sliding doors to provide light and fresh air • Rainwater collected in underground cistern and used for irrigation in gardens • Residents can park right outside their homes (480 parking spots) DESIGN ACTIONS

3.1 5.1 5.3 7.2 7.3

Promote hybrid neighborhoods Foster water consciousness Mind the sun Provide lānais for all Protect views and privacy

Photo: Bjarke Ingles Group Source: http://jdsa.eu/mtn/ https://www.archdaily. com/15022/mountain-dwellings-big https://www.dezeen. com/2008/02/17/ mountain-dwellings-by-big/

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Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

14 Carbon 12 by Kaiser Group and Path Architecture

Category:

Multi-Family Residential

Location:

Portland, OR

Year:

2018

DU/Acre:

~61

Lot Area:

~9,900 sf / 0.23 acres

Units:

Unit Types:

1-bdr, 2-bdr, 3-bdr

Amenities:

Mixed Use:

Yes

DESCRIPTION

“With Carbon12, Kaiser + Path have set a new standard for what’s possible in sustainable development in the United States. At 85 feet tall, Carbon12 is the tallest cross-laminated timber building in the country (as of Jan 2020). Kaiser + Path worked with city and state officials to waive restrictive codes limiting the height of wood buildings, making Carbon12 and future tall wood buildings in the US possible. Carbon12 combines modern luxury and environmental responsibility, with sophisticated technology and sustainability features built in. Along with the inherent environmental benefits of wood, Carbon12 is better equipped to handle an earthquake or other natural disaster than any other residential building in the country, thanks to its buckling-restrained brace frame core. The building also features a solar-ready roof, an underground mechanical parking system, and ground-floor retail spaces to anchor it within the surrounding community.” - Kaiser + Path KEY ATTRIBUTES

• At 85 feet tall, Carbon12 is the tallest cross-laminated timber building in the country (as of Jan 2020) • Carbon12 is better equipped to handle an earthquake or other natural disaster than any other residential building in the country, thanks to its buckling-restrained brace frame core • Uses a hybrid construction method, built with prefabricated cross-laminated timber panels and Sources: https://www. kaiserpath.com/carbon12 https://www.carbon12pdx. com/ https://www.archdaily. com/872219/path-architectures-catalytic-condominium-in-portland-is-the-tallest-timber-building-in-the-us

glulam beams around a steel core, allowing for off-site construction and quick assembly • Each unit has a recessed balcony DESIGN ACTIONS

1.2 3.1 7.2 7.3 8.1

Propose adaptable spaces Promote hybrid neighborhoods Provide lānais for all Protect views & privacy Source regional materials

Photo credits: Kaiser Group and Path Architecture

Holistic Housing Design Framework

105

15 Wood Housing Seestadt Aspern by Berger+Parkkinen + Querkraft

Category:

Multi-Family Residential

Location:

Vienna, Austria

Year:

2015

DU/Acre:

~109

Lot Area:

~85,130 sf / 1.95 acres

Units:

213

Unit Types:

Studio, live/work

Amenities:

Yes

Mixed Use:

Yes

DESCRIPTION

“A sequence of parallel building volumes differentiated in terms of scale utilities the large building plot D12 in the south-eastern part of the Seestadt Aspern. The complex with a total of 213 apartments and eight shops seems to consist of a group of clearly recognizable individual timber houses in the form of slender, compact individual volumes. The staggered layout creates different kinds of courtyard-like spaces and a variety of visual relationships. The various parts are connected to each other by three rows of access decks that run in a north-south direction. These three circulation routes offer a varied spatial experience provided by a sequence of light-flooded staircases, internal corridors, and open access decks onto which communal terraces are docked.” Berger+Parkkinen KEY ATTRIBUTES

• The inner courtyard is a semi-public zone that forms the common heart (canyon) of the complex, which is connected to the pedestrian zone and is surrounded at ground floor level by the communal rooms. • Wood cladding lines the ramps, sloped surfaces and walls • The highly insulated external walls are built prefabricated wooden walls that are produced in the factory at an ensured high level of quality using native wood and wood-based materials, with stone wool as insulation • The concrete frame allows freedom in designing the façade and permanent flexibility in the floor plans

Sources: https:// berger-parkkinen.com/en/ wood-housing-seestadt-aspern/?tx_category=housing

• Retail at ground floor DESIGN ACTIONS

2.1 2.3 3.1 4.3 7.1 7.2

106

Facilitate friendly interactions Open sight lines Promote hybrid neighborhoods Amplify community mobility Power active lifestyles Provide lānais for all

7.3 8.1 8.2 9.3 11.2 12.2

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

Protect views & privacy Source regional materials Aim for efficiency Activate micro-businesses Prioritize flexibility & variety Support aging in place

https://www.archdaily. com/950123/wood-housing-seestadt-aspern-berger-plus-parkkinen-architekten-plus-querkraft-architects Photo credits: Hertha Hurnaus

16 Tahanan Supportive Center by David Baker Architects

Category:

Multi-Family Residential

Location:

San Francisco, CA

Year:

2020

DU/Acre:

~405

Lot Area:

15,537 sf / 0.36 acres

Units:

146

Unit Types:

Studio

Amenities:

Yes

Mixed Use:

DESCRIPTION

“Tahanan Supportive Center is the prototype of what is hoped to model a new financing structure for permanent supportive housing. The goals of the project are to expedite the development process and make it more efficient, reducing cost by jump-starting construction using philanthropic funding. Permanent affordability and high-quality operations are ensured through a partnership with the City of San Francisco, which will provide operating subsidies after construction is complete. The site is in the central South of Market Area of San Francisco between 6th and 7th Streets on Bryant, across from the Hall of Justice. The site is central to public transit, grocery stores, and community parks.” - David Baker Architects KEY ATTRIBUTES

• The entire building above the concrete ground level is made of off-site factory modules • The goals of the project are to expedite the development process and make it more efficient, reducing cost by jump-starting construction using philanthropic funding DESIGN ACTIONS

8.2 11.1 12.2 12.3

Aim for efficiency Set aside flex space Support aging in place Welcome people of all abilities

Source: www.dbarchitect. com/Tahanan Photo credits: David Baker Architects

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17 Rosalind Franklin Residence by Bruther (France) and Baukunst (Belgium)

Category:

Multi-Family Residential

Location:

Saclay, France

Year:

2020

DU/Acre:

~159

Lot Area:

~50,590 sf / 1.16 acres

Units:

192

Unit Types:

Dorm rooms and shared flats

Amenities:

Yes

Mixed Use:

Yes

DESCRIPTION

“Rather than a building, the project should even be presented as an economical and equipped structure. The programme brings together several disparate elements (student accommodation, communal facilities, shops, public and private car parks). The distribution of the different programmes follows a logic of superposition: a double-height ground floor hosting the shops and collective spaces of the student residence; two levels R+1 and R+2 in a large open plateau for public parking spaces; at levels R+3, R+4, and R+5, three levels of housing; and finally an attic level hosting the upper levels of some duplex housing. As well thought out on the scale of the car as on that of the individual, the building seeks a way between a strictly functionalist approach and that constrained by domestic standards. The clarity of these structural responses allows the building to offer great flexibility and reversibility of use.” - Bruther and Baukunst KEY ATTRIBUTES

• 425 parking spaces that can be converted into housing or office space, depending on the university’s needs • Courtyard for use by university students and community members • Ground level communal spaces for dorm residents • Ground level retail (250 sq/m or 2690.98 sq/ft) DESIGN ACTIONS

1.1 2.1 3.1 3.2 8.3

Enable co- and multi-generational living Facilitate friendly interactions Promote hybrid neighborhoods Weave in parks & plazas Anticipate future change

Sources: https://www. miesarch.com/work/4972 https://www.abitare.it/en/ architecture/projects/2021/05/20/ bruther-baukunst-studenthousing-paris-saclay/ https://epa-paris-saclay.fr/ actualites-et-decryptages/ toutes-nos-publications/ la-nouvelle-residence-rosalind-franklin-va-accueillir-282-etudiants-des-janvier-2021 Photo credits: Maxime Delvaux and BRUTHER

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18 Ola Ka ‘Ilima Artspace Lofts by Urban Works

Category:

Multi-Family Residential

Location:

Kaka’ako, Honolulu, HI

Year:

2019

DU/Acre:

~122

Lot Area:

~30,000 sf / 0.68 acres

Units:

Unit Types:

1-bdr, 2-bdr, 3-bdr

Amenities:

Yes

Mixed Use:

Yes

DESCRIPTION

“Ola Ka ‘Ilima Artspace Lofts is a mixed-use affordable housing development in Honolulu’s rapidly changing Kaka‘ako neighborhood, combining live/work space for artists and their families, space for a non-profit organization, and retail space, as well as podium-level space for hosting community events and gatherings. The paired eight-story buildings include 84 rental units featuring high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, durable surfaces, and large doors to accommodate a variety of creative activities. The one-, two-, and three-bedroom units are larger than typical affordable units to allow for ample workspace; some are double-height townhouse-style units. Resident incomes are at or below 60% of the area median income for their household size, with preference given to applicants who are committed to the practice of their art.” - Urban Works KEY ATTRIBUTES

• High ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, durable surfaces, and large doors accommodate a variety of creative activities • The open design allows easy ADA conversion of units • Community is fostered through wide balcony-style access hallways and a podium level with kitchen, laundry, and workshop areas, community spaces are 17,000 sf • The common open space features play equipment and individual garden planters for each unit, with large cisterns holding rainwater for irrigation • Open, single-loaded corridors and unit layouts optimize natural ventilation Sources: http://www. eahhousing.org/apartments/ artspace-lofts/

• 94 parking spaces DESIGN ACTIONS

https://uwarchitects.com/ project/artspace-pa-i-olakailima/ https://www.artspace.org/

3.1 5.1 5.2 5.3

Promote hybrid neighborhoods Foster water consciousness Leverage cross breezes Mind the sun

6.1 6.3 9.3 11.1

Multiply productive lands Spark skill-sharing Activate micro-businesses Set aside flex space

Photo credit: Andrew Richard Hara

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19 MLK 1101 Supportive Housing by Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects

Category:

Multi-Family Residential

Location:

Los Angeles, CA

Year:

2019

DU/Acre:

~77

Lot Area:

~15,000 sf / 0.34 acres

Units:

Unit Types:

Studio, 1-bdr, 2-bdr, 3-bdr

Amenities:

Yes

Mixed Use:

Yes

DESCRIPTION

“Responding to an urgent need in Los Angeles for housing catered to formerly homeless veterans and chronically homeless and low-income households, LOHA collaborated with Clifford Beers Housing to transform a vacant, unimproved lot in South LA into a 100% affordable housing community, providing 26-units for previously homeless veterans and low-income families. LOHA’s LEED Gold design for MLK1101 Supportive Housing aims to create an environment that encourages health and community, acknowledging that successful social spaces come through a variety of planned and organic strategies. LOHA incorporates several design strategies that open the building towards the street and foster a sense of community within the neighborhood.” - Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects KEY ATTRIBUTES

• While the unit layouts are efficiently identical on each floor, the walkways vary in width for a more dynamic, staggered elevation and to create more informal gathering spaces and opportunities for residents to socialize • Parking is tucked behind a storefront space and a widened staircase that connects the street to the community spaces one level up • This stoop/podium is a gathering space and a public gesture, encouraging the types of resident and neighborhood interaction often missing in supporting housing • Tenants are encouraged to use amenities in the center, which is housed in the green-roofed volume, and includes a shared kitchen and dining area. • Two retail units at ground level Sources: http://www. loharchitects.com/work/ mlk1101-supportive-housing

DESIGN ACTIONS

2.3 3.1 5.1 5.2 5.3

110

Open sight lines Promote hybrid neighborhoods Foster water consciousness Leverage cross breezes Mind the sun

6.1 6.3 11.1 12.2 12.3

Multiply productive lands Spark skill-sharing Set aside flex space Support aging in place Welcome people of all abilities

Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, Sierralta & Strawn

https://www.archdaily. com/950370/mlk1101-supportive-housing-lorcan-oherlihy-architects Photo credit: Paul Vu

20 11 NOHO by Brooks + Scarpa

Category:

Multi-Family Residential

Location:

North Hollywood, CA

Year:

2019

DU/Acre:

~90

Lot Area:

~29,000 sf / .66 acres

Units:

Unit Types:

Studios, 1-bdr, 2-bdr

Amenities:

Yes

Mixed Use:

Yes

DESCRIPTION

“Offering shelter and comfort, 11NOHO eschews the typical neighborhood defensive apartment buildings with solid walls and fences in favor of a carved-out cube, a beacon in the neighborhood that celebrates social space by de-emphasizing private space. Strategically placed windows, purposeful exterior circulation and units that wrap the outer-most edges, orient the 60 apartments to social spaces that are spatially apart, yet visually connected to each other and the street below. More than any other multi-dwelling housing, courtyard apartments, ‘make you feel like you belong to a place.’ For people living around the courtyard, the space provides a sense of safety and privacy; the courtyard is a quasi-public space that mediates between the home and the street. For the city at large, the courtyard is an urban housing type that fits well into neighborhoods.” - Brooks and Scarpa KEY ATTRIBUTES

• Central courtyard that visually connects to the street while providing secure spaces for residents to connect • Variety of floor plan sizes and layouts • Private outdoor spaces and cross ventilation for all units DESIGN ACTIONS

Sources: https:// brooksscarpa.com/ camarillo-apartments https://www.dezeen. com/2022/03/01/ brooks-scarpa-11-noho-hollywood-white-housing/

2.1 2.3 3.1 4.1 5.2 7.2 7.3 11.1 11.2

Facilitate friendly interactions Open sight lines Promote hybrid neighborhoods Respect human scale Leverage cross breezes Provide lānais for all Protect views & privacy Set aside flex space Prioritize flexibility & variety

Photo credits: Tara Wujcik, Jeff Durkin and Lawrence Scarpa

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21 Kampung Admiralty by WOHA

Category:

Multi-Family Residential

Location:

Singapore

Year:

2018

DU/Acre:

~46

Lot Area:

~97,530 sf / 2.24 acres

Units:

104

Unit Types:

1-bdr

Amenities:

Yes

Mixed Use:

Yes

DESCRIPTION

“Kampung Admiralty is Singapore’s first building to bring together a mix of public facilities and services under one roof. The traditional approach is for each government agency to have their own plot of land, resulting in standalone buildings. This one-stop integrated complex maximizes land use and the benefits of co-location, and is a prototype for meeting the needs of Singapore’s aging population. The compact site, adjacent to a train station in medium-rise public housing area, prompted a layered ‘club sandwich’ approach. The result is a ‘Vertical Kampung (village)’, with a Community Plaza sheltered by a Medical Centre supporting a rooftop Community Park overlooked by apartments for seniors.” - WOHA KEY ATTRIBUTES

• “Buddy benches” at shared entrances encourage seniors to come out of their homes and interact with their neighbors • Complementary programs such as childcare and an Active Aging Hub (including senior care) are located side by side, bringing together young and old to live, eat, and play • The Community Plaza is a fully public, porous, and pedestrianized ground plane, designed as a community living room DESIGN ACTIONS

3.1 3.2 11.1 12.1 12.2

Promote hybrid neighborhoods Weave in parks & plazas Set aside flex space Take play seriously Support aging in place

Sources: https://woha.net/ project/kampung-admiralty/ https://www.archdaily. com/904646/kampung-admiralty-woha Photo credits: K.Kopter and Patrick Bingham-Hall

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22 Sweetwater Spectrum Community by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects

Category:

Multi-Family Residential

Location:

Sonoma, CA

Year:

2013

DU/Acre:

Lot Area:

~121,400 sf / 2.79 acres

Units:

16 bedrooms - 4 homes

Unit Types:

4-bdr homes

Amenities:

Yes

Mixed Use:

DESCRIPTION

“Sweetwater Spectrum is a nonprofit organization founded in 2009 by families, autism professionals, and community leaders to provide appropriate, high-quality housing for adults with autism, maximizing residents’ individual development and independence. Sweetwater Spectrum is an innovative new model that can be replicated nationwide to help solve this impending housing crisis. The project includes four homes, a community center, therapy pools, and urban farm. Autismspecific design strategies promote serene, legible spaces that create a safe nurturing environment. Practical sustainable design strategies promote health and wellness, reduce energy consumption, and offer multiple long-term benefits to residents, staff, and the Sonoma community. ” - Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects KEY ATTRIBUTES

• A straightforward and consistent spatial organization provides clearly defined transition thresholds between public, semi-public, semi-private, and private spaces • A layered or “nested” experiential hierarchy, spanning individual room, a residential wing, a house with four residents, a sub-neighborhood of two homes, the community center and commons, and finally extending to the broader community. • Residents have the opportunity to preview spaces and activities, and they can access places of retreat for quiet and calm • All spaces were designed to reduce sensory stimulation and provide a serene environment Sources: https://www. archdaily.com/446972/ sweetwater-spectrum-community-lms-architects https://www.lmsarch.com/ projects/sweetwater-spectrum-community https://sweetwaterspectrum.org/

DESIGN ACTIONS

1.1 2.1 2.3 5.1 5.2 5.3

Enable co- and multi-generational living Facilitate friendly interactions Open sight line Foster water consciousness Leverage cross breezes Mind the sun

6.1 6.3 7.2 11.1 12.2 12.3

Multiply productive lands Spark skill-sharing Provide lānais for all Set aside flex space Support aging in place Welcome people of all abilities

Photo credits: Tim Griffith

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23 Parking House by Jaja Architects

Category:

Other Buildings

Location:

Copenhagen, Denmark

Year:

2018

DESCRIPTION

“Ejler Bille’s Parking House introduces a human scale to the infrastructural facilities that (still) occupy our cities. The ambition has been to transform parking houses from being mere functional necessities for cars, into attractive places for people and our urban environment. Commissioned to design the facade only, we created a patchwork pattern of brick and stretch metal that varies in scale. On the upper part of the facade, the scale of the pattern is larger, relating to the vast size of the actual parking house structure. As the facade meets the street, the patchwork pattern becomes smaller and creates inviting spaces for people.” - Jaja Architects KEY ATTRIBUTES

• The facade gradient reflects the scale of the adjacent buildings and offers spaces for seating DESIGN ACTIONS

4.1

Respect human scale

Sources: http://jaja.archi/ project/ejlerbille/ https://www.archdaily. com/906198/parking-houseejler-bille-jaja-architects Photo credits: Jaja Architects

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24 Accessory Commercial Units by Neil Heller (coined phrase)

Category:

Other Buildings

Location:

Various

Year:

Various

DESCRIPTION

“The accessory commercial unit, or ACU, ranges between a home-based business in an extra bedroom to a small shop or office. You have likely heard of an ADU, an accessory dwelling unit, or ‘granny flat.’ An ACU is similar in that it’s an accessory to a main house while offering more affordable space with neighborhood-friendly gentle density, but in a way that caters to local business owners. An ACU is more or less the next incremental step up from a home-based business that had its start in a spare bedroom or garage.” - Neil Heller KEY ATTRIBUTES

• Supports small businesses • Increases accessibility to small businesses and stores to residential neighborhoods • Reactivates residential neighborhood DESIGN ACTIONS

Sources: https://www. bsbnewurbanism.com/ featured-stories/2021/5/27/ an-introduction-to-the-acu

3.1 4.1 9.3

Promote hybrid neighborhoods Respect human scale Activate micro-businesses

https://raleighnc.gov/ SupportPages/what-are-accessory-commercial-units-or-acus https://www.fastcompany. com/90530672/ with-downtowns-staying-abandoned-put-tiny-businesses-back-into-residential-neighborhoods Photo credits: Neil Heller and Google

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25 Park n’ Play by Jaja Architects

Category:

Other Buildings

Location:

Copenhagen, Denmark

Year:

2016

DESCRIPTION

“Park n’ Play is a hybrid structure between parking house and playground. It rethinks the monofunctional parking house and transforms what is often an infrastructural necessity into a public amenity. Instead of concealing the parking structure, the architecture enhances the beauty of the structural grid and breaks up the scale of the large building volume. This grid of planters on the facade is penetrated by two large public stairs that extend up to the roof. The frieze depicts historic tales from the harbor. It pictures its development, significant buildings and structures, activities, and other transformative events that have shaped the history of Nordhavnen. The frieze is designed and illustrated by Rama Studio. The handrail along these two stairs continue past the staircase and onto the rooftop to become a fantastic playground. From being mere railing, it transforms into swings, cross-fit equipment, jungle gyms and more. From the street level, the railing literally takes the visitors by the hand and invites them on a trip to the rooftop landscape, overlooking the amazing Copenhagen Harbor.” - Jaja Architects KEY ATTRIBUTES

• The frieze depicts historic tales from the harbor and other transformative events that have shaped the history of the neighborhood • A continuous red handrail leads people from the street to the rooftop public space. • Swings, trampolines, jungle gyms, cross-fit equipment, monkey bars attract playful and athletic children, adults and elderly DESIGN ACTIONS

3.2 7.1 12.1

Weave in parks & plazas Power active lifestyles Take play seriously Source: http://jaja.archi/ project/konditaget-luders/ Photo credits: Jaja Architects

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26 The 606 by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates and Ross Barney Architects

Category:

Community/Neighborhood Infrastructures

Location:

Chicago, IL

Year:

2015

DESCRIPTION

“Stretching 2.7 miles through four Chicago neighborhoods, the 606 is a linear park and multipurpose bicycle trail, following the path of a former interurban rail line and providing a unique new community connection. Its unique construction, elevated landscape, unobstructed travel, and inspiring views are the foundation for a park unlike any other in the city. The park intersects multiple communities along Bloomingdale Avenue, is directly adjacent to many privately owned buildings, and passes over major vehicular arterials, an historic boulevard, bus and bicycle routes, and the CTA Blue Line. The park feels unified along its length, but also offers a diverse range of experiences that reflect local context and communities. Various types of artwork are included along the trail, as are interpretive elements that relate the history of this impressive piece of civic infrastructure.” - Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Inc KEY ATTRIBUTES

• Intersects and connects multiple communities • Provides unobstructed travel and safe passage for residents of neighborhoods • Supports the pedestrian experience through perimeter plantings, generous seating, and viewing opportunities • Access points take advantage of existing parks and underused street right-of-way • Leverages the existing street network

Sources: www.the606.org www.mvvainc.com/project. php?id=97&c=parks

DESIGN ACTIONS

3.2 4.3 7.1

Weave in parks and plazas Amplify community mobility Power active lifestyles

https://www.r-barc.com/ work/the-606-frameworkplan Photo credits: Via Michael Van Valkenberg Associates Inc

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27 Places for People by Gehl

Category:

Community/Neighborhood Infrastructures

Location:

Vancouver, Canada

Year:

2017-2019

DESCRIPTION

“Places for People is a city program and approach to public space planning and design that is grounded in an evidence-based understanding of public life. It puts people at the forefront of public space design and decision-making, by considering how people use and feel about public spaces. Through this survey we reaffirmed that Downtown Vancouver is an incredibly walkable district that invites people, year-round, into its vibrant series of neighborhoods. Active transportation, particularly walking, was apparent as the first choice for many people in Vancouver, setting a precedent for the future of mobility in cities in North America and around the globe. As Vancouver continues to grow it is more important than ever that the city continue to foster public life with invitations to spend time in the public realm year-round. This includes creating opportunities to connect and socialize with each other, supporting everyday life experiences, and creating more opportunities for Vancouver residents to shape their public realm and actively participate in public life.” - Gehl, Thomas Daley and Danielle Wiley, Lead Planners, Places for People, City of Vancouver. KEY ATTRIBUTES

• Evidence-based understanding of public life through surveys and community engagement • Focus on active transportation, particularly walking • Creating opportunities to connect and socialize within the community DESIGN ACTIONS

4.1 4.2 4.3

Respect human scale Democratize the street Amplify community mobility

Source: http://gehlpeople. com/blog/places-for-people-in-downtown-vancouver/ Photo credits: Alison Boulier

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28 16th Street Mall by Gehl

Category:

Community/Neighborhood Infrastructures

Location:

Denver, CO

Year:

2014-2016

DESCRIPTION

“Denver’s 16th Street Mall is a mile-long main street and transit corridor in the city’s historic downtown core. It has regressed into a place needing constant maintenance and repairs, with safety concerns and an under-performing retail environment. Since 2014, Gehl has been working for the City and County of Denver and the Downtown Denver Partnership (DDP) to create an actionable solution for this street. Gehl assisted in running the prototyping festival and measuring the impacts of the festival on both the Mall as well as the activated cross streets of 16th Street. Today the DDP are creating public space upgrades and installations.” - Gehl KEY ATTRIBUTES

• Provides a series of experiences • Provides transportation choices • Creates initiatives for people to spend time • Encourages lively edges • Creates a strong and integrated network DESIGN ACTIONS

4.1 4.2 4.3

Respect human scale Democratize the street Amplify community mobility

Sources: https://gehlpeople. com/projects/street-mall-denver/ https://issuu.com/ gehlarchitects/docs/denver_ principles_report_for_print Photo credits: Mark Englert

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29 15-Minute City by Carlos Moreno & Mayor Anne Hidalgo

Category:

Community/Neighborhood Infrastructures

Location:

Paris, France

Year:

2016

DESCRIPTION

“Inspired by the work of Jane Jacobs, who argued that proximity is the key to making cities vital, Carlos Moreno argues that cities should be redesigned so that people can access the basic social functions of a city within their own neighborhoods. Traditional urban design, with people commuting to a city center from a distance, is outdated. The overall vision—focusing not just on how people get around the city, but on making sure that people live near the places that they need to go—is something that some other cities are now also beginning to consider.” - Fast Company, Adele Peters KEY ATTRIBUTES

• People can access basic social functions of a city within their neighborhood • Minimizes car pollution • Introduce offices and co-working hubs in neighborhoods • Multiple uses for infrastructure that already exists (libraries, stadiums, and other buildings could be used outside their standard hours. Nightclubs could double as gyms in the afternoon). • Pedestrianizes the city center • Reconnects neighbors DESIGN ACTIONS

3.1 3.2 3.3 4.1 4.2 4.3

Promote hybrid neighborhoods Weave in parks & plazas Blend civic spaces into daily life Respect human scale Democratize the street Amplify community mobility Source: https://www. fastcompany.com/90456312/ pariss-mayor-has-a-dreamfor-a-15-minute-city Image credits: N.Bascón for Paris-en-commun

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30 NYCHA Red Hook Houses by KPF, OLIN, Arup, and others

Category:

Community/Neighborhood Infrastructures

Location:

New York, NY

Year:

2016

DESCRIPTION

“KPF and NYCHA devised a resiliency and renewal program that would lessen the community’s vulnerability to natural disasters and improve the sustainability and livability of the development’s 28 buildings housing over 6,000 people. The proposed plan includes two freestanding buildings for above ground boilers that incorporate community amenities in their design. The West Plant features a planted roof, acting as a continuation of the adjacent public park, while the East Plant includes social spaces in addition to a translucent exterior. Fourteen ‘utility pods’ provide heat and electricity, further decentralizing the infrastructure and decreasing the likelihood of widespread utility failure. The project’s ‘lily pad’ concept, its major resiliency component, offers a non-obtrusive landscape solution for flood protection. Raised earth at the center of internal courtyards offer permanent flood barriers to support a porous campus. Low flood walls doubling as benches will automatically deploy in the event of high water. During normal weather, these elements transform the resident experience by providing vibrant, social spaces.” - KPF KEY ATTRIBUTES

• On-site renewable energy and water use • Decentralized infrastructure, decreasing the likelihood of widespread utility failure Source: https://www.kpf.com/ projects/nycha-red-hookhouses https://www.kpf.com/stories/ resiliency-plus-heart

• Raised earth, low flood walls for flood protection that also double as social spaces DESIGN ACTIONS

5.1

Foster water consciousness

https://www.aiany.org/ architecture/featured-projects/view/ new-york-city-housing-authority-red-hook-houses-sandy-resiliency-renewal-program/ Image credits: KPF and Olin Studio

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31 Borigo by Wicomico ApS, Mads Dreisig-Johansen + Asger Norskov Bak

Category:

Digital, Programs, Others

Location:

Denmark

Year:

2010

DESCRIPTION

“We’ve three goals by digitalizing your homes association: improve the communication, support neighborliness, and contribute to the sharing economy. When we digitalize your homes association it gives some opportunities apart from more effortless communication. We see a bright potential in supporting neighborliness and the sharing economy. Both are concepts known from old times. However, they can get a completely new life with the opportunities new technology provides.” Borigo KEY ATTRIBUTES

• Borigo is a platform that provides notice boards, a neighborhood database, group communication, direct messaging, and resident resources to connect residents to each other and with management. • Notice Boards keeps residents up to date on what’s going on, with opportunity to comment, post notices, events, classifieds, and photo albums. • Residents can create a group that makes it easy to communicate, share files, or let others follow what goes on in your committee, work, or hobby group. • A neighborhood database allows residents to get in touch with each other easily. • Residents can get an overview of the shared facilities of your association and reserve them directly within Borigo, and allow them to find the important documents and information of your association, well-organized and searchable in the resident folder. • Residents can easily chat with one or more neighbors directly. DESIGN ACTIONS

2.2

Sync-up the community

Source: https://www.borigo. com/en-dk/about Image: Stills from Borigo website

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32 The Evaluation Rose by Gehl

Category:

Digital, Programs, Others

Location:

Region Skåne, Sweden

Year:

2011

DESCRIPTION

“In 2011, Region Skåne, a regional authority, home to 1.35 million people in southern Sweden initiated efforts to use transit hubs to better effect. Their ambition was to strengthen regional connectivity and identity and catalyze public life in and around local transit hubs. To do this, Gehl was invited to develop a working tool and process methodology that frames dialogue between local and regional stakeholders to identify, measure, and evaluate the characteristics of transit hubs. The tool and process methodology combined enable the coherent planning of local, ‘people first’ public space development, whilst strengthening coherency towards a regional identity and culture.” - Gehl KEY ATTRIBUTES

• The tool is designed as an agile element that can be used to measure local place characteristics, from which to base urban design plans upon. • The tool aims to assess and measure accessibility, safety, identity, attractiveness, and life. • Accessibility is assessed on the physical, local, and regional scale • Safety is assessed on physical and social aspects • Identity is assessed on the local and regional scale • Attractiveness is assessed by care, human dimensions, and climate protection • Life is assessed by public life and meeting points DESIGN ACTIONS

4.3

Amplify community mobility

Source: http://gehlpeople. com/projects/region-skane/# Images: Gehl

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33 Solarville by Space10 + SANO

Category:

Digital, Programs, Others

Location:

Copenhagen, Denmark

Year:

2019

DESCRIPTION

“SolarVille is an ambitious yet fully realizable vision for the future. More specifically, it’s a working prototype of a miniature neighborhood completely powered by solar energy. Built to a 1:50 scale, some households generate their own renewable energy using solar panels, while others automatically purchase excess electricity directly from the producer using block-chain technology. The result is a model of a self-sufficient, community-driven micro-grid where people trade renewable, affordable energy from one another according to their individual needs.” - Space10 KEY ATTRIBUTES

• A miniature wooden village model with working components, including solar panels, LEDs, and underlying block-chain technology • The model enables you to observe a functioning network of block-chain-traded energy and interact with an artificial sun to see its effect on the network in real-time • Example of an architectural construct as an educational tool DESIGN ACTIONS

5.3

Mind the sun

Source: https://space10.com/ project/solarville/ Photo credits: Irina Boersma

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34 SPUR: A No-Cost Rooftop Solar Stimulus by SPUR: Susannah Parsons and Nick Josefowitz

POLICY BRIEF MAY 2021 UPDATE

Category:

Digital, Programs, Others

Location:

California

Year:

2021

A No-Cost Rooftop Solar Stimulus How streamlining residential solar installations can jumpstart a green economic recovery

DESCRIPTION

“As California looks to exit the pandemic, the need for a green recovery through the expansion of rooftop solar energy generation and energy storage has never been clearer. This expansion would help address climate change by meeting the state’s renewable energy targets, protecting communities from wildfires and public safety power shut-offs, and growing local jobs and small businesses in every California community. This brief lays out a set of quick, no-cost actions that state and local governments can take to begin this expansion and updates SPUR’s 2020 policy brief with new data and a renewed urgency.” - SPUR KEY ATTRIBUTES

• The proposal to expand rooftop solar and storage can spur local economic development, increase energy resilience, and move the state closer to its emissions targets • Research estimates that electricity provided from solar could save the average American household as much at $2,500 a year. • Local governments across California should pursue several significant steps to dramatically reduce the cost of small residential solar installations — and increase their uptake and associated economic benefits DESIGN ACTIONS

5.3

Mind the sun

Source: https://www.spur. org/publications/ white-paper/2021-07-12/ no-cost-rooftop-solar-stimulus Image: Report cover

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35 Zero Waste Design Guidelines by Kiss + Cathcart Architects + more

Category:

Digital, Programs, Others

Location:

New York, NY

Year:

2016

DESCRIPTION

“The Zero Waste Design Guidelines address the crucial role that design plays in achieving NYC’s ambitious goal, outlined in OneNYC, to send zero waste to landfills by 2030. As a resource to help designers, building operators, and planners, the guidelines will encourage the collaboration needed to dramatically reduce waste and work toward greater adoption of circular material flows. Rather than languishing in a landfill, the city’s waste could be a resource to create compost, energy, and recycled products – but that depends on our ability to conveniently and hygienically separate our waste.” - Center for Architecture KEY ATTRIBUTES

• The Zero Waste Design Guidelines is a comprehensive, inclusive process with more than 100 collaborators with diverse backgrounds • Collaborators engaged in multidisciplinary workshops, conducted team site visits to more than 40 buildings, and held discussions with porters and supers to fully understand waste collection issues across building types. • Collaborators identified waste strategies and best practices for reducing waste generation, increasing capture rates, and diverting more waste through new diversion streams. DESIGN ACTIONS

6.2

Redefine waste

Sources: https://www. zerowastedesign.org/ https://www.zerowastedesign.org/wp-content/ uploads/2017/10/ ZeroWasteDesignGuidelines2017_Web.pdf https://www.centerforarchitecture.org/press-releases/ zero-waste-design-guidelines-to-launch-october-18-2017/ https://www.aiany.org/ membership/advocacy/filter/ zero-waste-design-guidelines/ Image: Zero Waste Guidelines cover

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36 Factory OS Founders Larry Pace and Rick Holliday

Category:

Digital, Programs, Others

Location:

California

Year:

2017

DESCRIPTION

“We build well-designed, tech-ready multifamily homes 40-50% faster and 20-40% less expensive than conventional housing. These savings are proven, not projected. We do this by building the bulk of the home off-site, right down to the toilet paper holders. Then we ship it and assemble it on-site.” - Factory OS KEY ATTRIBUTES

• Modular, pre-fab manufacturing that reduces waste, emissions, and construction costs • Manufacturing method aims to speed construction times and take steps towards meeting affordable housing needs • Supports in-house integrated research and innovation, partnering with local universities and research centers to leverage their work and improve efficiency of future projects DESIGN ACTIONS

8.2

Aim for efficiency

Sources: https://factoryos. com/our-story-modular-home-manufacturers/ https://factoryos.com/ updates/can-factory-built-apartments-solve-californias-housing-woes/ Photo credits: Factory OS

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37 Kapolei Ho‘olimalima by Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

Category:

Digital, Programs, Others

Location:

Kapolei, HI

Year:

2017

DESCRIPTION

“The Department of Hawaiian Home Land’s (DHHL) recently completed Kapolei Ho‘olimalima Pilot Project has gained the attention of the National Association of Home Builders ‘Drive Home’ segment which features families across the nation who have achieved the dream of becoming homeowners. In collaboration with Mark Development, Inc. the pilot project directly benefited Native Hawaiian families in the homestead community of Malu‘ōhai by converting them from renters to homeowners. Mark Development, Inc. was responsible for developing and managing the pilot project using Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits. The tax credits earned over the life of the 15-year project raised over $6.7 million in equity, which was passed onto the Native Hawaiian renters who exercised the purchase option offered to them.” - Department of Hawaiian Homelands KEY ATTRIBUTES

• The tax credits earned over the life of the 15-year project equity, allowing Native Hawaiian renters to exercise the purchase option provided • This pilot project allows renters to pay for their homes over time, giving renters more flexibility and stability DESIGN ACTIONS

9.1

Ensure accessible equity

Sources: https://dhhl.hawaii. gov/2017/09/08/ dhhls-kapolei-hoolimalima-rent-with-option-to-purchase-pilot-program-gains-national-attention/ https://www.facebook.com/ dhhl.hawaii.gov/videos/ the-drive-home-kapolei-hoolimalima-pilot-project/1680012562017952/ Image: Video still from “ The Drive Home - Kapolei Ho’olimalima Pilot Project”.

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38 AirBnB Open Homes by Airbnb

Category:

Digital, Programs, Others

Location:

Various

Year:

2012

DESCRIPTION

“For over 8 years, Airbnb helped people in times of crisis through the Open Homes initiative. Airbnb. org is the next chapter. We’re a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with our own mission and board of directors. Our mission is to unlock the power of sharing space, resources, and support in times of need.” - Airbnb KEY ATTRIBUTES

• Airbnb.org gives grants to nonprofits that connect people to temporary housing, resources, and specialized support in times of crisis. • Provides access to free and discounted housing offered by the Airbnb host community. • Airbnb.org invests in organizations with strategies and programs that are aligned with our commitment to advancing equity in communities. • We aim to map the impact of our funding and housing program to improving psychosocial wellbeing, alleviating financial burden, and strengthening community and belonging for guests DESIGN ACTIONS

9.2

Bridge the gap

Sources: https://www.airbnb. org/about https://www.airbnb.org/ get-involved?locale=en Image: airbnb website screenshot

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39 Find HCV Housing by Chicago Housing Authority

Category:

Digital, Programs, Others

Location:

Chicago, IL

Year:

DESCRIPTION

“The HCV Program places the choice of housing in the hands of the individual family. To assist families with their search, CHA provides a list of available units in the Chicagoland area.” - CHA KEY ATTRIBUTES

• Provides a list of affordable and available units on a user friendly platform DESIGN ACTIONS

10.1

Track housing availability

Source: https://www.thecha. org/residents/housingchoice-voucher-hcv-program/ find-hcv-housing Image: Chicago Housing Authority logo

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40 My NYC Developments by NYC Housing Authority

Category:

Digital, Programs, Others

Location:

New York City, NY

Year:

DESCRIPTION

“If you’re a NYCHA resident, you can use MyNYCHA to create, schedule, and manage work tickets via a desktop or mobile device. You can also use it to subscribe to alerts for outages in your development, view inspection appointments, view closed work tickets, and pay your rent. Development Websites is striving to be your source for information about your development. Here you will find facts about the development, activities related to property maintenance, services available at specific developments and more.” - MyNYCHA KEY ATTRIBUTES

• NYCHA provides a full service portal that allows residents to create, schedule, and manage work tickets, subscribe to alerts, view appointments, and pay rent. • The portal also offers resources related to maintenance and additional services • The portal is available in two languages and can be used on both web and mobile platforms DESIGN ACTIONS

10.2

Streamline household management

Sources: https://my.nycha. info/DevPortal/ https://www1.nyc.gov/site/ nycha/residents/mynycha. page Image: NYC Housing Authority logo

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41 Landed Category:

Digital, Programs, Others

Location:

Various US states

Year:

Founded 2015

DESCRIPTION

“We help essential professionals (educators, healthcare professionals, and government employees) buy homes and build financial security near the communities they serve in three main ways. Financial Solutions: We help you think through possible routes to homeownership such as using our shared equity down payment program. Our program helps you reach a 20% down payment without income restrictions. Trusted Partners: We support you with a personalized homebuying team that includes a trustworthy partner agent, a participating lender, and a Landed homebuying expert. Homebuying Guidance & Resources: We equip you with free homebuying education on all phases of the process — information gathering, ready to purchase, and submitting an offer. You can also learn more about homebuying with Landed through our customer stories. The homebuying journey begins long before you’re financially ready to buy a home. No matter where you are on that journey, we will work with you to find a path forward.” - Landed KEY ATTRIBUTES

• Landed pairs you with a partner agent, a participating lender, or home buying coach to get you started, whether you plan to buy a home in the near term or the future • Landed provides an option for a flexible down payment plan DESIGN ACTIONS

10.3

Map alternative paths to long term housing

Sources: https://help.landed. com/what-does-landed-do https://www.landed.com/ Image: Landed logo

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42 Digs by Ojo

Category:

Digital, Programs, Others

Location:

N/A

Year:

N/A

DESCRIPTION

“Homeownership has always been a large part of the American Dream. And the facts remain clear: a homeowner’s net worth is 44x more than that of a renter. Unfortunately for many, access to homeownership is unattainable due to a number of economic barriers. Our goal is to provide financial tools that break down these barriers and help people build long-term wealth through homeownership.” - Digs KEY ATTRIBUTES

• Free home valuations: Real-time home valuations from expert data providers • Monitor your equity: Track your home equity, optimize your mortgage, and learn how to build long term wealth. • Plan for the future: Set up a maintenance fund or save for a renovation project in an FDIC insured account. • Uncover hidden savings: Personalized suggestions to help you save on property taxes, insurance, and mortgages. • Automated savings: Set up recurring deposits daily, weekly, or monthly. Out of sight. Out of mind. • Home buyer education: Follow your personalized road-map and become a home buying expert as you save. • Home buyer rewards: Increase your buying power by earning discounts from select mortgage lenders. DESIGN ACTIONS

10.3

Map alternative paths to long term housing

Sources: https://digs.co Images: Digs logo and app

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43 Multilingual Signage by Dotdash

Category:

Digital, Programs, Others

Location:

Brisbane, Australia

Year:

2013

DESCRIPTION

“One of the strategies from the Brisbane City Council’s recently commissioned report, Brisbane’s Unique Window of Opportunity, is to establish stronger links with the Asia Pacific economy. Part of this strategy is to provide multilingual communication to international visitors, including signage and digital guides. Multilingual signage in the city center was developed to support international visitors and reinforce the Council’s Lifestyle City strategy. Based on the target audience of short stay international tourists and long stay international students, messages in Korean, Japanese, Traditional Chinese and Arabic were introduced to the signage. Thirty-three new brightly colored multilingual directional signs were installed within the city centre, replacing English only signs.” - Dotdash KEY ATTRIBUTES

• Achieve a visual balance of weights and letter-forms across different languages while still honoring each language’s individual characters • Most of the pictograms used to help users identify generic destinations (transportation, stairs, etc.) were culled from universally recognized symbols. • Using a kit of parts approach, the strength of the design relies upon a simple panel and post components that can be configured in a multitude of ways to suit a specific location • The modularity of the panels advocates for ease of rotation, and anticipates the inevitability of future change DESIGN ACTIONS

11.3

Communicate in multiple languages Sources: https://segd.org/ brisbane-multilingual-pedestrian-wayfinding https://dotdash.com.au/ projects/multilingual-signage/ Photo credits: Larraine Henning/Dotdash

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44 NORCs Category:

Digital, Programs, Others

Location:

New York State and others

Year:

Phrase coined in 1984

DESCRIPTION

“The term NORC—coined in 1984 by Michael Hunt, a professor of urban planning at the University of Wisconsin–Madison—denotes any geographically defined community in which at least 40% of the population is 60 or older and live in their own homes. With such a broad definition, NORCs can take Sources: Report - “Which Older Adults Have Access To America’s Most Livable Neighborhoods? An Analysis Of Aarp’s Livability Index”, a joint report between AARP Public Policy Institute and the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, by Jennifer Molinsky, Whitney Airgood-Obrycki, Rodney Harrell, Shannon Guzman. 2020. Article - “NORCs: Some of the Best Retirement Communities Occur Naturally”, by Marlene Piturro, Ph.D. and SCAN Foundation. Published on Next Avenue. 2012. Research Project - “NORCS in New York, A Study of Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities in New York City”, by Interboro Architects. Published by Urban Omnibus, a publication of the Architectural League of New York. 2010.

many forms. In 2010, some 40.3 million Americans were 65 years or older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, but estimates of how many live in NORCs vary widely. Although AARP has reported in recent years that 25 to 36 percent of seniors live in NORCs, the Administration on Aging puts the figure at 17%. Whichever estimate is accurate, some NORCs clearly thrive while others wither—and what makes the difference are Supportive Services Programs, or SSPs, usually the result of partnerships between local organizations and vetted providers. As NORCs evolve into NORC-SSPs, they typically begin by offering social services, health care management, education, recreation, and volunteer opportunities. To those core components, many have added adult day care, meals, transportation, home care, legal and financial advice, home safety improvements, mental health counseling, and disease management.” - Marlene Piturro, Ph.D. KEY ATTRIBUTES

• Encourages community engagement • Provides social services, healthcare management, and volunteer opportunities • Proximity to transportation, day care, meals, and other amenities DESIGN ACTIONS

12.2 12.3

Support aging in place Welcome people of all abilities

Photo credit: Penn South, NYC by Matthew Gordon Lasner

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Endnotes 1. Rodriguez, Max. “Hotels for Heroes, safe stay for essential personnel.” KHON2, April 1, 2020; Associated Press. “Going to war: Hotels become barracks for health care workers during coronavirus pandemic.” USA Today, April 27, 2020. 2. Jolly, Jennifer. “Remote learning during coronavirus: How to make your home into a workable school.” USA Today, April 1, 2020; Bowen, Russ. “Classroom to kitchen table: Teachers adjust to working remotely during COVID-19 pandemic.” CBS17, March 19, 2020. 3. Godoy, Maria. “No, you don’t need to disinfect your groceries. But here’s how to shop safely.” NPR, April 12, 2020. 4. Correal, Annie. “The complicated calculus of helping neighbors during a pandemic.” The New York Times, March 24, 2020; Mason, Dick. “New neighborhood watch helping people cope with crisis.” The Observer, April 9, 2020. 5. Fujimori, Leila. “Hawaii residents keep eye out for visitors who break quarantine.” Star Advertiser, May 19, 2020; Hughes, Trevor. “Postal carriers, delivery workers keep Americans safe at home during coronavirus.” USA Today, April 25, 2020. 6. Cohen, Arianne. “This is how to safely receive packages and delivery during the coronavirus.” Fast Company, March 17, 2020. 7. “Stop the spread by staying local.” Washington State Department of Health. June 15, 2020. www.medium.com 8. Wang, Jack. “Why time outdoors is critical to your health, even during coronavirus pandemic.” University of Chicago News, April 6, 2020; Levenson, Michael. “What we know about your chances of catching the virus outdoors.” The New York Times, May 15, 2020; Lezak, Stephen. “COVID-19 reveals a crisis of public spaces.” Eco Watch, May 14, 2020; Brinson, Kendrick. “One foot in front of the other: How a daily walk helps us cope.” The New York Times, May 6, 2020. 9. Cornfield, Jill. “Not for the first time, Central Park is providing hospital beds.” CNBC, April 3, 2020; Flanagan, Brenda. “New pop-up hospital ready to relieve crowded COVID-19 ERs.” NJTV News, April 2, 2020; Santos, Yiselle; Campbell, Sarah. “How health care providers can use community spaces to improve access to coronavirus testing.” HKS, March 23, 2020. 10. Thomas, Lauren. “Curbside pickup at retail stores surges 208% during coronavirus pandemic.” CNBC, April 27, 2020; Guynn, Jessica. “COVID-19 dining out: Restaurants take to the streets to create socially distanced dining rooms as nation reopens.” USA Today, May 21, 2020. 11. Diaz, Johnny. “Cities close streets to cars, opening space for social distancing.” The New York Times, April 11, 2020. 12. Lynott, Jana; Heller, Mouchka. “How public transportation provides key lifelines during COVID-19.” World Economic Forum, April 23, 2020; “The Guardian view on Covid-19 and transport: walk to the future.” The Guardian, April 21, 2020. 13. “Floods and Water Damage.” American Lung Association, accessed July 23, 2020. www.lung.org/clean-air/emergencies-and-natural-disasters/floods-and-water-damage; Lacy Hirsch, Ben. “Quarantined in a property that flooded? Coronavirus compounds risks from Harvey, Imelda [Opinion].” Houston Chronicle, April 1, 2020. 14. “Natural ventilation for infection control in health-care settings.” World Health Organization, accessed July 23, 2020. www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/publications/natural_ventilation 15. Asyary, Al; Veruswati Meita. “Sunlight exposure increased Covid-19 recovery rates: Study in the central pandemic area of Indonesia.” Science Direct, April 27, 2020. 16. Hirschfeld, Andy. “With Coronavirus wrecking the food supply, people are turning to urban farming.” The Observer, May 8, 2020; Chandran, Rina. “Grown your own: Urban farming is flourishing during the coronavirus lockdowns.” World Economic Forum, April 09, 2020. 17. Bradshaw, Kaitlin. “Covid-19 pandemic reveals true importance of recycling and the supply chain.” Waste 360, April 30, 2020. 18. Klisanin, Dana. “Learning from each other during and after Covid-19.” Psychology Today, April 11, 2020; Heath, Elizabeth. “Adaptability may be your most essential skill in the Covid-19 world.” The Washington Post, May 26, 2020.

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19. “Exercising during COVID-19.” RUSH, accessed July 23, 2020. www.rush.edu/health-wellness/discover-health/exercising-during-covid-19 20. Poon, Linda. “A lesson from social distancing: build better balconies.” CityLab, April 20, 2020; Fidler, Matt. “Balcony spirit: hope in face of coronavirus - in pictures.” The Guardian, March 19, 2020; Zacka, Bernardo. “An ode to the humble balcony [opinion].” The New York Times, May 9, 2020. 21. Forster, Victoria. “Is 6 feet apart really enough physical distancing during the coronavirus outbreak?.” Forbes, April 20, 2020. 22.

Taylor, Rives. “Now is the time to invest in local materials.” Gensler, April 20, 2020.

23. Bonner, Lynn. “Construction sites are ‘high-risk’ settings for coronavirus infection, NC official says .” The News & Observer, June 15, 2020; Taylor, Rives. “Now is the time to invest in local materials.” Gensler, April 20, 2020; Bipat, Chelsey. “How prefabrication can kick-start construction after coronavirus.” Nearby Engineers, April 10, 2020; Koones, Sheri. “Amy Marks on Prefab Hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic.” Forbes, April 9, 2020. 24. Conger, Kate. “Facebook starts planning for permanent remote workers.” The New York Times, May 21, 2020. 25. Mastroeni, Tara. “New study explores how coronavirus has impacted buyers in the real estate market.” Forbes, May 18, 2020. 26. Brey, Jared. “What to know about housing and rent during the COVID-19 emergency.” Next City, April 21, 2020. 27. Semuels, Alana. “‘If we don’t work, we don’t get paid.’How the coronavirus is exposing inequality among America’s workers.” TIME, March 4, 2020; “Covid-19’s effect on jobs at small businesses in the United States.” McKinsey & Company, May 5, 2020 28. Ricciulli, Valeria. “What NYC renters need to know during the coronavirus pandemic.” Curbed New York, July 1, 2020 29. Kharif, Olga. “Contactless payments skyrocket because no one wants to handle cash.” Bloomberg, April 16, 2020; Walden, Stephanie. “Banking after COVID-19: The rise of contactless payments in the US.” Forbes, June 12, 2020. 30. Lane, Ben. “Chase now requires a 700 FICO score, 20% down payment to buy a home.” Housingwire, April 13, 2020; Menton, Jessica. “COVID hasn’t stopped the housing market, but good luck finding a home you can afford.” USA Today, July 1, 2020. 31. Greene, Solomon, McCargo Alanna. “New data suggest COVID-19 is widening housing disparities by race and income.” Urban Institute, May 29, 2020; Morphy Erika. “Apartment Amenities will change post-coronavirus. But How?” Globe St, May 29, 2020. 32. Brower, Tracy. “Diversity, Equity and inclusion: what the coronavirus teaches and how we must respond.” Forbes, May 19, 2020; Mohtashami, Logan “Could the coronavirus crisis lead to larger homes and office spaces?” Housing Wire, May 19, 2020. 33. “The importance of good communication in times of COVID-19” The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, May 16, 2020. Accessed July 23, 2020. media.ifrc.org/ifrc/2020/05/16/importance-good-communication-times-covid-19/ 34. Goodman, Ken. “Top ten Covid-19 anxiety reduction strategies” Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Accessed July 23, 2020. adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/consumer/top-ten-covid-19-anxiety-reduction-strategies; O’Neill, Meaghan. “Covid-19 is changing our perspective on playgrounds” Architectural Digest, April 24, 2020. 35. “Covid-19 guidance for older adults.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed July 23, 2020. https://www.cdc. gov/aging/covid19-guidance.html 36. “Rethinking sidewalks and streets in the midst of Covid” National League of the Cities, April 27, 2020; Markovich, Tony. “Social distancing machine shows sidewalks cannot keep you coronavirus safe”Auto Blog, April 24, 2020; Keeling, Brock. “Pedestrian etiquette guide during the coronavirus pandemic” Curbed San Francisco, May 12, 2020; Honore, Marcel. “Pedestrians in Hawaii need more space. Here’s how to give it to them.” Civil Beat, July 1, 2020.

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This manual is paired with the Imagine Your Community and Case Study sorting cards In the Holistic Housing Design Toolkit. For further information and use cases see the Holistic Housing Design Toolkit How-to Guide.

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