Architecture is not for selected few but EVERYONE.

Not So Empty Nest (Anywhere in USA, Competition, Honorable Mention)

In response to the challenge of livability, adaptability, and affordability, the not so empty house must be a flexible house in its programmatic elements, orientation of each of those elements and its construction phasing. Therefore, our proposal consists of four building blocks that can be arranged according to the clients’ programmatic needs, oriented according to the shape and orientation of the site, and build in phases according to the clients’ financial ability and materials that reflect the genius loci of the site.

The four building blocks are living/dining area, sleeping area, studio/guest/home aid area and garage/storage area that is connected using outdoor/indoor circulation connections. The arrangement can be linear or clustered depending on the programmatic needs, the shape of the site and orientation. This allows each client to build in phases and add on as they need more space or to rent out spaces/areas not in used. This will allow them to maintain only a small portion of their house to provide additional income and to keep their house safe while traveling.

Since the shape and location of the site is unknown, the four blocks give flexibility each owner to fit the arrangement on their site. This also means they can customize the arrangement to suit their programmatic needs and preferences, making the block layout customized for them. In addition, exterior materials can be chosen based on the local climate, construction method as well as owners’ preference. Even the block basic shape can be adjusted to meet owner’s preference and local climate making the house able to weather and have long lasting life.

Windows and skylights are operable to create cross ventilation/natural ventilation for passive cooling and provided in every single space for natural light. In addition, the house incorporates radiant heating system that requires no ducting to reduce maintenance cost as well as energy cost. Other green strategies can be chosen to be incorporated based on owners’ budget and interests such as solar panel, recycled materials, local materials, rain harvesting etc.

We believe that these design strategies are the answers to universal design with regional response and personal touch of each owner as well as being green.

Sumner Public Library (Sumner, Washington State, USA)

Siebert Remodel (Tacoma, Washington State, USA)

Highline College Campus Wayfinding Concept Study (Des Moines, Washington State, USA)

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News

Mahlum, in partnership with Architecture for Everyone, is selected to design New Middle School for Edmonds School District.

Architecture for Everyone is part of BCRA Design and Korsmo Construction Design-Build team to deliver the Lowell Elementary School replacement for Tacoma Public Schools.

Architecture for Everyone and Johnston Architects have been designing the Sumner Public Library for the Pierce County Library System. The project is to start construction in Spring 2025.

Architecture for Everyone is involved in a couple of feasibility studies for The Washington State Fair in Puyallup.

Thoughts

Architecture is not for selected few but EVERYONE. The upper 1% can buy with their wealth, the bottom 5% are taken care of by the government. The challenge for each architect is to also serve the middle from the bottom 5% to the upper 1%. That is social justice in architecture.

If Disneyland is to Apple Macintosh in its integrated design, Las Vegas is to IBM PC in its open-source method. But both employ Robert Venturi’s “ugly and ordinary” design approach.

Creativity is to solve design problems, not to creatively force the realization of a heroic design ideal.

We expect our buildings to be flexible and adaptable but fail to recognize that we, humans, are the most adaptable creature. Architecture is heavy and static and, therefore, shall not be expected to be able to be changed too much without significant intervention.

Between three east Asian traditional architecture of China, Korea, and Japan, the most ornate and decorative is Chinese, followed by Korea and Japan being the least. That is why Japanese architecture can accept and adopt the idea of modernism well, especially minimalism.