What is the shape of a household? The U.S. Census defines a household as any person(s) residing in the same housing unit, family or non-family. By this definition, both household and housing are one-to-one. Yet the reality is often more fluid. Over the period of a decade, a year, or even a day, the shape of a household can double, divide, or dissolve. One household may become two, as in the case of a divorce, or more optimistically, a college-bound child. Two households may merge into one, as in the case of an elderly or disabled kin needing care, or through a domestic union or roommates. Households may co-mingle with business, as in the case of the artist studio, or therapy office, or rental unit. Some households stretch themselves to care for others, as in the neighborhood daycare or assisted living, or—more prevalently—during climate emergencies.

As households change shape, so should its architecture. In Households, people share addresses while choosing how to share space. In Site B, five housing units sit adjacent to one another, sharing a semi-covered porch as their entry. Each main housing unit is a 1700 s.f. starter home, offering 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, living, kitchen and flexible room. The main unit is a split level house with staggered living and dining spaces in order to accommodate a generous 450 sf JADU. On the ground floor, the JADU is nested in the main unit, while high ceilings provide a lofted mezzanine above the kitchen and bath. Both the main house and JADU are connected by a share-door.

To thicken the shapes of togetherness (or separateness—as is sometimes desired), the share-door can be opened or closed as needed, maintaining openness and fluidity for the many shapes that households can take.

Small spaces and shared thresholds are opportunities to stretch building codes. In Los Angeles, the financial forms of subdivisions treat setbacks as natural boundaries of the interior to maximize the sale of square footage. Instead, Households incorporates setbacks as opportunities for generosity. The north setback is a private garden, open to the adjacent unit. On the second and third floor, 15% of interior space is given over to an (unrequired) setback that offers light wells, plantings, and open air access, encircling the upper floors with outdoor and garden views. Each floor has access to outdoor space through a terrace, light well, or garden.

Households is five units but feasibly ten households. It’s a subdivision experiment to disrupt the architectural habits of the single family, to find bridges between households,generations, and living arrangements.

Households is a winning entry to Small Lots Big Impact, a two-phase design and development initiative organized by cityLAB alongside the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office, the Housing Department, and City Council.

HOUSEHOLDS

PROJECT TYPE
Housing

LOCATION
Los Angeles, California

PROJECT STATUS
Open

PEOPLE
Jia Yi Gu
Maxi Spina
Leo Zhang

OPPORTUNITY
CityLAB x Office of the Mayor Los Angeles

UNITS
5 Units + 5 JADU