Visionary design

Student rendering - elevation of a tiny house complex

Visionary design

Project 2

Compass House would prefer to own their own facility to provide stability for their programs and the opportunity to attract more investment from government and donors. This project provided the organization with visionary ideas for a permanent home. Students expanded and focused the research completed in Project 1 and developed a design for an innovative program of services and a facility.

Students explored a variety of programming strategies, including temporary emergency housing, transitionary housing, permanent supportive housing, community services, educational and occupational opportunities. They also explored different design strategies including a mixed-use building, a campus of multiple buildings, or a micro home village. The project also incorporated conventional construction methods, adaptive re-sue, self-help construction and prefabrication as well as sustainable building design ideas. Aesthetics and neighborhood context were an important aspect of the project with a focus on avoiding stigma while providing a positive and culturally progressive image.

Real world immersion

Student rendering - Street view of colored houses

Real world immersion

Project 1

Compass House is currently planning a transitionary housing facility for 6-8 people which, due to funding constraints, will be a rental facility. The studio helped them evaluate potential buildings to rent by designing renovations for each. This project involved measuring the buildings, drawing existing plans and minimal renovations to the interior. Clients of Compass House worked with each team in a co-design process. This project provided a grounded exposure to the Compass House program and established connections between clients and students to facilitate continuing communications.