New Urban Housing
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
PFA was awarded a Progressive Architecture award of excellence for this design competition submission. The work on this project was for a community development organization competition to build eight modest three-bedroom housing units of 1200 sf each, at a cost of $50 per sf. The units were to be sold or rented depending on demand. Affordability was achieved through the use of prefabricated construction, with field assembled skin and foundations.
The proposal focused on a metaphorical reading of a hilly urban site. We proposed a progression from city to country following the rise of 35 feet from the southwest (urban) corner, to the northeast (rural) corner. The 35-foot level was used as a datum line, below which construction would be of masonry, and above which it would be of wood. Vegetation follows the metaphor, with gardens giving way to grove, giving way to forest as one moves up the site.
The 14' x 36' units are based on the Charleston single house, each with a private side yard and roof terrace. The rear yard is shared common open space divided into "active," "passive" and "interactive" zones.
PROJECT TYPE: Multifamily
SCOPE OF SERVICES: Award for Design Competition