When discussing affordable housing, the image that might come into your mind is fortress-like blocks and rows of grey box-like housing. However, a new affordable housing design has emerged thanks to Bothell architecture firm. They are well-designed, well-built, functional, and aesthetically pleasing.
Affordable housing in Bothell has tight budget constraints. Proficient architects employ smart strategies to design a visually appealing space and offer homeowners comfort and convenience. Let's explore some of these approaches
Integrating Neighborhood and Absent Services
The neighborhoods may lack supermarkets, venues for physical activity such as gyms and parks, and other healthy options. The architect might consciously design affordable housing that can fill in some of these gaps. For instance, wide stairwells designed with natural lights encourage residents to use them.
Creating Facades Variation Through Materials and Colors
Facade materials should be visually appealing, durable, and environmentally friendly. The architect may create dynamic facades more economically by pairing regular and simple facades with a few significant visual shifts and a mixture of lower and higher-cost materials. For instance, an angled exterior wall or entrance creates visual interest without substantially increasing facade length and complexity.
It's More Than Just About Sustainability
Green and affordable housing is more than just about sustainability. A high-rise building around the central courtyard is an example of this. Residents will have access to natural light, fresh lights, and green space outside their windows, irrespective of the unit's location.
Design Unit Layout for Efficiency and Flexibility
A series of tweaks can be combined to make more efficient and affordable units. For instance, one-bedroom and studio units can be planned without hallways and entry halls. Your architect can design a flexible space. Bathrooms and kitchens can align to a single wet wall where plumbing is concentrated. The number of interior corners can be reduced to expedite and simplify interior framing.
Deciding on the amenities that should be incorporated into individual units and what will be common to the building will depend on regulations and local market conditions.
Creating a Long-Term Saving By Investing in Environmental Performance
Architects invest in high-performance envelopes to design affordable housing. For instance, HVAC systems are installed in a centrally located zone to keep the duct and piping short and eliminate air leakage. Encapsulated attic, careful flashing, and energy-efficient windows for tightly sealing the building envelope.
Respectful with Scale and Creative with Massing
Modern architects are deviating from big-block high-rise buildings. They are breaking up massing within a building to permit unit variations and creativity within the zoning codes. They might use unconventional massing to match neighborhood scale while maximizing the number of units offered.
Bottom Line
The modern affordable housing in Bothell incorporates sustainable features that reduce the cost of construction and maintenance. In addition, the designed space is energy-efficient, functional, and aesthetically pleasing.