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AIA/HUD Secretary Awards Recognize Four Outstanding Housing Projects
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For Immediate Release |
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Washington, D.C., July 2,
2008 — The American Institute of Architect’s (AIA) Housing and
Custom Residential Knowledge Community, in conjunction with the
Office of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD), recognized four recipients of the 2008 AIA/HUD
Secretary Awards. The award recognizes excellence in four
categories: affordable housing architecture, neighborhood design,
participatory design, and accessibility. These awards demonstrate
that design matters, and the recipient projects offer examples of
important developments in the housing industry.
Excellence in Affordable Housing Design
Award
K Lofts, San Diego
Jonathan Segal Architect
K Lofts is a collection of simple architectural forms collaged to
create a nine-unit loft building on a 9,000-square-foot urban
property in downtown San Diego. The Modern building integrates
urban living environments for a mixture of very low income (50
percent of median income) affordable and market rate rental units
with each unit containing large private outdoor spaces and oversize
glazing. The sustainable project provides 50 percent renewable
electricity. The K Lofts were designed with a participatory design
process, creating positive connections among residents, community
stakeholders, local government officials, and civic groups.
“This project shows that affordable projects can look great.
This reflects designs south of the border and plays with the colors
of Mexico in this location that is not too far from the
border,” the jury said.
Creating Community Connection Award
Valencia Gardens, San Francisco
Van Meter Williams Pollack LLP with Associate Architect Martinez
Architects, Inc. for Mission Housing Development
Corp.
This HOPE VI federally funded mixed-use affordable public housing
project is located on a five-acre site in the Mission District of
San Francisco. The client sought to replace an existing failed
urban development. The primary goals were to connect the project
with the surrounding urban fabric, re-establish a strong sense of
place amongst the neighboring community, provide a safe place that
establishes defensible space while acknowledging household
independence, and foster a sense of pride through design, community
oriented space, and public art. The connection of this building to
its surrounding area indicates that the building is well integrated
to the community in addition to providing the residents with the
ability to work in their units. The linked gardens are a standout,
and there is a nice juxtaposition of materials and color.
Community-Informed Design Award
Greenbridge, White Center, Wash.
GGLO, with Associate Architect Arellano/Christofides for King
County Housing Authority
This 100-acre HOPE VI Redevelopment is a mixed-income, Built Green
Community of 1,000 low-income workforce rental and for-sale homes.
An intensive public participation process included more than 100
meetings with residents, neighbors, business leaders, public
agencies, and the surrounding community implemented over a
nine-month master planning period. “This project greatly
emphasizes community involvement in the design process from
initiation to execution. This is a great extension of public
planning projects from the early days of HUD’s 701,” the
jury noted. “Creating community is a challenge even to think
about with a project of this size, and the architects deserve
credit for coming up with this master plan that gives the team a
chance to look and see what’s coming. At the bottom of the
site plan, the grid is an extension of the map, so the plan is an
effort to knit the new development with the existing
community.”
Housing Accessibility—Alan J. Rothman
Award
Patrolia Loft, Boston
Ruhl Walker Architects for Brian Patrolia
This interior fit-out of an existing concrete-shell apartment for a
wheelchair user starts with the proposition that accessible design
should first and foremost be good design. A sophisticated, urbane
owner desired a loft that would be simultaneously uplifting and
tranquil as a place for both work and entertainment and would
reflect the full range of his interests. Specific accommodations
for his mobility limitations are incorporated honestly, without
unnecessary concealment and also without becoming unattractive
afterthoughts or distractions. “There’s a beautiful
meshing of accessibility and architecture and one is not given
precedence over the other. It has a nice duality of the space,
therefore the space is more enduring,” the jury said.
“The project has a longer lineage in the sense that
accessibility is not its main definer over its lifestyle. Design
itself creates a dynamic that is inspiring in terms of
accessibility, for example the inclusion of carpeting, using
standard cabinets in an unusual way. Why don’t they do this
more often?”
About The American Institute of
Architects
For over 150 years, members of the American Institute of Architects
have worked with each other and their communities to create more
valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings and
cityscapes. By using sustainable design practices, materials, and
techniques, AIA architects are uniquely poised to provide the
leadership and guidance needed to provide solutions to address
climate change. AIA architects walk the walk on sustainable design.
Visit www.aia.org/walkthewalk.
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