Rooted is a coliving project that encourages interaction, connection, and sharing, both with humans and with the surrounding biodiversity. Through strategic reforesting techniques, a feeling of "living within the forest" is created within the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood in Detroit.
The project establishes a gradient of high-density microforests along Jefferson Avenue to high-density housing further into the neighborhood. Urban farming is a key component of the landscape, as are variations in forest types and public spaces. The site builds upon the productive landscape with a "one mile restaurant" - community gardens and greenhouses sprinkled throughout create an additional economy and support the restaurant along Jefferson Ave.
Dwellings are made up of a combination of 6 unit types / 3 pairs of units and a greenhouse module that can be combined in various configurations and which promote cohabitation with biodiversity through carved away spaces for landscape and wildlife. While each unit can be independently occupied, they are designed to promote coliving with some shared spaces and overlap between units as well as flexibility for users and times of the year. A central "core" unites all programmatic functions of each unit, with all functional program located within the core and split-level floors and furniture that revolve around the cores.
** In collaboration with Minyoung Lee and Meghan McGrath
EACH UNIT IS DESIGNED TO FUNCTIONS INDEPENDENTLY, BUT IT SHARES A FEW COMMUNAL SPACES AND MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, AND PLUMBING SYSTEMS WITH THE OTHER UNIT IN THE PAIR.
EACH UNIT IS IDENTIFIED WITH A SPECIFIC COLOR THAT CARRIES THROUGH THE FACADE SYSTEM AND INTO THE INTERIOR FINISHES OF THE UNIT, HELPING TO DISTINGUISH IT AND ITS FEATURES FROM THE OTHER UNITS. THE UNIT HAS ITS OWN KITCHEN, LIVING, BEDROOM, HOBBY, AND DINING SPACES AND A PRIVATE BALCONY. SHARED SPACES BETWEEN THE UNITS INCLUDE LEISURE SPACES, LAUNDRY ROOMS, AND STORAGE. EACH UNIT HAS A CORE WHICH CONTAINS ALL WET SPACES AND WHICH HAS A VARIETY OF FLEXIBLE FURNITURE OPTIONS, AND EACH OF THE SPLIT LEVEL FLOOR PLATES REVOLVES AROUND THE CENTRAL CORE OF THE UNIT.
IN KEEPING WITH THE WARMTH OF THE UNITS, WOOD IS USED AS A PRIMARY FINISH MATERIAL, BOTH ON THE INTERIOR WITH THE CORES, FLOORS, AND STRUCTURE, AND ON THE FACADE.
EACH UNIT HAS ITS OWN MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, AND PLUMBING SYSTEMS, BUT EACH OF THESE SYSTEMS ARE DESIGNED SO SERVE THE PAIR (OR CLUSTER) AS A WHOLE. AN AIR/WATER VRF SYSTEM SERVES THE UNIT, WITH A CENTRAL AIR HANDLING UNIT THAT SERVES THE ENTIRE CLUSTER.
DESIGNED SIMILAR TO OTHER SINGLE FAMILY HOMES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UNITS ARE TIMBER STICK FRAMED WITH CLT FLOOR PLATES TO KEEP THE STRUCTURE NIMBLE. CURVED CONCRETE LIVING WALLS, PREFABRICATED INSULATED CONCRETE PANELS, ADD DIVERSITY TO THE FACADE AND ENCOURAGE INCREASED INTERACTION AND COHABITATION WITH BIODIVERSITY.
