eco duplex

1,000 sf per dwelling unit

Our intent was to create an affordable housing prototype that could be grouped and repeated but also would feel like a separate, single family home to the owners. The design presented here is but one configuration of a flexible building module. We envision the form being highly configurable and adaptable for a variety of uses: accessible, senior-friendly ground floor units; live-work unit configurations with top floor living areas and ground floor lobby, office, or workshop areas; community uses, such as combined senior and child care. 

Our design is driven by two forces working in tandem: sustainability and beauty. Starting with east-west building orientation on site, the long shape of the duplex is positioned to optimize cross-ventilation and solar tempering. Opportunities for shared outdoor spaces are created by the oblique placement of the building on the site. Courtyards between the duplexes form a strong connection between the public features (sidewalk and school field), while also screening it with a layer of semi-privacy. 

In addition to the common spaces between each pair of buildings, we envision common “gap” spaces breaking up a group of 6-7 buildings (12-14 dwelling units) and serving as green community hubs. These landscaped hubs provide amenities, such as playground equipment, seating, dog walking areas and public art. A common trail, running on the edge of the school field adjacent to the homes, connects the hubs.

Orienting the building’s long axis along east-west direction minimizes western exposure heat gain. East and west facing windows are limited in size for the same reason. South-facing sloped roof surface is designed to serve as the location of the solar shingles or solar panels and solar water heaters. Light-colored western walls and reflective roofing throughout helps mitigate solar heat gain. 

Have a site in mind for this project? Email us to start a conversation.