The HOME House Project
The children at Center AM became interested in houses last winter. They started building a red playhouse, using ladders, and talked about fixing and rebuilding it. For some, the project was a way to experience construction in their own homes, as they watched renovations going on in their community. For these children, the project had special meaning. In addition to building their own house, the children learned about birds. Ultimately, the project provided a positive and rewarding experience for everyone involved.
The HOME House Project is a multi-year design initiative that addresses three pressing issues facing our nation: affordability, design, and sustainability. The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, launched the initiative as a means to inspire future designers and architects to imagine a future in which environmentally friendly homes would be commonplace. The winners of the competition will be announced in September. A selection of the selected designs will be used to document a multi-year national design initiative for low and moderate-income housing.
The new homes will be located near the site of the old housing project at 176 and 183 Central Place. The homes will be built on small plots of land, maximizing the amount of space available. A consulting engineer, Maurice Brown, P.E. of C2EM Urban, LLC, said the project is an integral part of Dr. McNeil’s vision for a wholesome residential community. The community will see new opportunities in the area.
In addition to the house, the show has featured many projects that have been undertaken by real people. The Dorchester House, which was built in 1849, was featured in season one, and the Seaside Victorian Cottage, which was built in 1930, featured numerous projects, including expanding the kitchen and adding a veranda. Additionally, the show has tackled multiple home improvement projects in Boston, including a kitchen makeover, attic makeover, and basement remodeling. In addition to these projects, the show has undertaken redecorating an apartment in the Longwood neighborhood.
After being approved, the project was subject to several conditions that were imposed by the commissioner. These included a requirement for five houses on the west end of the project to be single story and have fences less than six feet high. It also required that the four mature palm trees in the site be relocated to an infiltration basin. The project has also faced opposition from neighbors, who feared that the new development would separate the neighborhood. The suit against the project resulted in a requirement that the height of walls along Highland Avenue must be kept to three feet.
After World War II, the population of the country increased at an unprecedented rate. In the aftermath, war damage reduced the number of houses in many cities. Rent prices rose dramatically. In response, the government passed the 1948 Rental Law, which effectively ended the economic benefits of housing investment. From then on, rents were gradually deregulated until the 1980s. A major homelessness crisis occurred in the winter of 1953-4. After the government passed the necessary laws, high construction activity started slowly. Social landlords were key construction actors, with connections to local and national bodies.
