Frameworks to Freedom builds on John Habraken’s Open Building concept, which proposes a dynamic relationship between a fixed structural framework and adaptable infill, striking a balance between architectural control and resident-led customization. While Habraken’s vision typically applies to newly constructed frameworks, this project explores how existing housing typologies can be transformed to enable similar freedoms. Focusing on the highly standardized “5-over-1” building—a common urban typology consisting of a concrete podium, up to five wood-framed stories, double-loaded corridors, and generic one- and two-bedroom units—Frameworks to Freedomproposes both physical and organizational strategies to retrofit these structures for affordability and resident empowerment in underserved communities. First, the project reimagines these buildings as nonprofit cooperatives, allowing residents to collectively own and manage their housing while fostering community resilience. Second, it introduces a subscription-based system that enables individuals or families to select among tiers of amenity access, unit sizes, and finish levels—providing flexibility aligned with residents’ spatial needs and financial situations. Third, Frameworks to Freedom outlines three spatial transformation types—the Strip, the Cluster, and the Courtyard—which can be adapted to various contexts and building conditions. All three challenge the rigidity of the double-loaded corridor layout, replacing it with generous shared outdoor areas and collective living spaces, while allowing for flexible, reconfigurable private units. Using the Lorena Apartments in Boyle Heights as a case study, the project illustrates how a standardized nonprofit development can evolve into a flexible, resident-owned, affordable housing model—transforming not only the built environment, but the lives of those who inhabit it
FRAMEWORKS TO FREEDOM [F2F]: From Standardized Atomized Dwelling to Flexible Collective Living
