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Parastoo Lotfi
Parastoo Lotfi
LA is a city with all types of people. Housing in LA has become the most costly in the nation and has brought an affordability problem to the city because far more people want to live here than it currently can fit which is simply the reason the city has gone into this housing crisis.
So, the high cost of housing is making homelessness not a choice but a must for most of the homeless in LA. The number of homeless in LA risen by 75% in the last 6 years.
People become homeless for many reasons. However, the lack of affordable housing as one of these causes is growing in frequency.
According to the Census Bureau, over 83% of single parent households are headed by a single mother. This means that single mothers and their children are more likely to experience homelessness than other types of families.
A majority 69% of these woman either had never been married or were divorced.
A person can become a single parent for a variety of reasons:
Separation
Divorce
Widowhood
Adoption and premarital birth are the most common.
Many women have dealt with domestic violence, substance abuse, and mental health issues that have left them unable to keep their kids. Arriving at Los Angeles Mission, many are fearful and overwhelmed, with a double challenge of getting their lives on track – and getting their children back.
Proposed site
Proposed site
My approach was to use the Underutilized existing structure in the downtown of Los Angeles ,in the area which is call Fashion District to provide an affordable transitional housing for single mothers.
The LA Fashion District is a 100 block district in downtown Los Angeles and is the hub of the West Coast apparel industry. It caters to the wholesale and retail communities, with apparel and accessories for the entire family, textiles, flowers, live/work lofts, and restaurants.
The site is an existing underutilized retail store structure on the first floor and the rooftop parking on the top. These parking lots are perpendicular to each other and right next to Joseph church and Santee alley, which in that area there are so many retail and wholesale buildings and many parking lots. The Alley is one of the most popular shopping areas in the Fashion District, known for its festive atmosphere, which is a good opportunity to find a job.
4 key ideas picture that inspired me in my design
4 key ideas picture that inspired me in my design
Design process
Design process
Designed 3 different types of prefabricated units with timber wood structure, then assembled on site to cut construction waste and time. so this way helps to create a greater chance for accommodating a larger group of users and also provides a variety of differenet units prices.
The way they placed to each other is to each unit has a private balcony or outdoor space, and the way they nest together is to allow every space air and light from at least two sides. I wanted to have them a meeting environment and gathering space, so the design created a space in between for social interaction providing seating areas, play area and they can even grow their own vegetable.
Open green space areas
Open green space areas
Communal share spaces
Communal share spaces
Play area
Play area
Connecting bridge from the roof to the churchyard
Connecting bridge from the roof to the churchyard
Share Kitchen
Share Kitchen
They have access to the common eating area, share a kitchen, so they can know each other, connect to each other and rely on each other better. Also, the share kitchen area has a back door to the bridge, so they can prepare food and take it downstairs on Sundays or Saturdays for sale to the people who are coming to the church.
Perspectives
Perspectives
3D section
3D section
Street view
Street view
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