Elevated Building-Scape

My housing proposal converges two distinct hierarchies to reimagine and reverse, in built space, our collective concern for (1) homelessness (and the socioeconomic conditions preceding) and (2) the native environment of our city. The goal was to elevate both literally and so also figuratively, life for homeless people and our care for the environment. Built upon thin strips of land leftover between the concreted LA “River” and disused railway lines, the series of elevated bars create three distinct zones in section: ground, roadway, parking area, and bike storage; floor 1, housing, amenities; roof, a lengthy, variously programed, connective park. Common spaces and amenities for the lengthy housing blocks are located at intersections of the blocks. The most important tenet of the unit designs is access to significant private outdoor space; which, in this proposal, is pushed to the roof, where private outdoor form something of a processional of neighborly front yards along a green thoroughfare.