ACS102 – WOODLAWN, CHICAGO, USA
ACS102 – WOODLAWN,
CHICAGO, USA
CLIENT
YEAR
STATUS
PROGRAM
COLLABORATORS
Private
Ongoing
Initiation
Housing
NAGY Associates
Located in Woodlawn, South Chicago, near the University of Chicago, the future Obama Centre, and the metro station. ACS102 FAMILIA is a five-storey building with (non)-commercial and retail space in the plinth, as well as 26 apartments on top, surrounding a courtyard. The small scale of the community fits elegantly in the low density of the area. The project is filling a void in demand between the traditional free-standing three-level houses and the other type of development of high density 100+ residential developments. The distinctive red colour of the facade and the big window openings are in keeping with the existing brick buildings in Woodlawn’s community.
FAMILIAS
Families come in many different shapes and sizes, but they all have shared values and wishes. They want to feel comfortable and safe in their homes, connect with their neighbours, and be part of a thriving community. ACS: FAMILIA projects offer them that.
COURTYARD
The Dutch word for courtyard is ‘Hof’. It stands for garden and derives from the spatial organisation, a collection of houses surrounding a communal garden. The enclosed garden feels like a safe space and stimulates community. Residents become part of each other’s lives by seeing each other’s homes and passing one another in the courtyard. This plays a significant role in the social cohesion between residents. The courtyard is the place for communal activities, and is the place where traditions are born. Activities such as sharing meals, parties and other events strengthen the cohesion.
BUILDING PRINCIPLE
The FAMILIA block is an adaptation of the traditional Dutch courtyard housing. By cutting open one side of the building, more sunlight can reach deep into the courtyard, making it possible to stack more floors on top of each other while still maintaining the quality of life and sense of community in the courtyard.
BUIILDING TYPOLOGIES
The different family compositions require a variety in housing types. The flexibility of the building allows for different apartment sizes throughout the block, tailoring to single occupant apartments, as well as to homes for larger families. The configuration of units can be adapted to the need of the neighbourhood.
SUSTAINABLE PRINCIPLES
Circular Design
The ensemble has a circular design at its core, where there is always an ambition to work with materials that have the least impact on the environment. Working with light materials as wood have greatly positive effects on the environment, but also requires a lighter foundation, reducing the use harmful materials, making it more cost-efficient and make it possible to demount every building. The goal is to create an ensemble with a minimum carbon footprint.
Passive House
All of the houses in Familia are build with the passive principle, meaning there isn’t a need for traditional heating. Resulting into less enviromental impact, less monthly costs and lower investment costs..
Communal Smart Energy Grid
The ensemble has an integrated electrical network, connecting al the buildings PV panel to a central battery system, located in the parking garage, making the ensemble self-sufficient in its energy production.
MODULAR PRINCIPLE
The facade panel is 6m wide x 3m high and is the basis of ACS102. The panels are designed with a modular/prefab system in mind, making the panels an integrated part of the architecture, translating the seams of the panels into architectural accents that illustrate and give texture to the facade.
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