Twin Peaks: Forging New Collaborations in the Design of Affordable Housing

Forging new territory and new collaborations is a constant negotiation in the world of affordable housing. For the City of Syracuse Habitat for Humanity chapter, the common outcome is to take what is donated which can easily lead to sub-par standards of construction. But two years ago, Habitat approached Assistant Professors at Syracuse University to design a single family house with better quality, durable materials and more sustainable construction methods. New collaborations within the community established two Habitat houses as a catalyst fora “Living Classroom,” that brings together architects, engineers, local trades, and volunteers to redefine methods of construction and collaboration for affordable single family housing. We collaborated with the local MCAA chapter (Mason Contractors Association of America), to find new design potential using CMU as the structural material in the two residential homes.

Volume Editors
Amir Ameri & Rebecca O'Neal Dagg

ISBN
978-1-944214-14-2