The 99K House Competition

This two-stage, international design competition calls for a single family house with up to 1,400 SF, including 3 bedrooms and 1½ - 2 bathrooms, on a 50' x 100' site in Houston’s historic Fifth Ward. The winning design should be adaptable to a variety of sites in the area, including 33' x 90' lots and 40' x 100' lots.

Context
Houston’s Fifth Ward neighborhood, a residential area east of downtown Houston, is a low-income neighborhood characterized primarily by wood-clad, one-story cottages on raised pier foundations. Established in the late nineteenth century, the Fifth Ward contains small-scale houses with a high ratio of public service amenities such as parks, schools, churches, and community centers. This area has seen recent decay through neglect of homeowners, which has led to many vacant lots and foreclosures.

The neighborhood was selected as the site for The 99K House Competition because the organizers believe that construction of one prototypical affordable house here will initiate neighborhood revitalization. We hope our interest in this neighborhood will encourage low-income families who have left their neighborhood to return. The competition will also address the changing demographic of low-income families in the Gulf Coast region.

Prevailing building heights, massing, and residential uses contribute to a consistent and harmonious character found among the immediate surroundings and should be considered.

Affordability
Construction costs cannot exceed $99,000, as designated by Houston contractors who will provide pricing for the three final proposals. Organizers of the competition believe that this is a realistic budget, given local economic conditions. However, entrants must be aware that the 99K budget includes builder’s overhead and profit, all appliances, hardware, and finishes, and any additional engineering or architectural fees. Logically, hard construction costs of materials and labor should be in the range of $75,000.

Sustainability
All entries should recognize that sustainable construction systems and materials will be considered by the jury, who will recognize that through efficient energy use, initial cost can be offset by savings in ongoing utility bills. Energy generated by on-site sustainable technologies can exceed ENERGY STAR® requirements, further contributing to lower overall annual operating costs.

By site positioning, massing, and overall design, building elements can shade otherwise exposed exterior building materials thereby lowering exposure to solar heat gain and baseline energy demands. Exterior shading may also protect exposed building surfaces from ultraviolet light that deteriorates surfaces and increases maintenance costs.

When applying low-maintenance material systems, higher initial cost may provide enhanced long term benefits. Other optimal choices for material systems are those that cause less pollution or contribute less to the non-renewable waste stream. Construction waste should be minimized. Materials and processes that yield a smaller environmental footprint have benefits to both the homeowners and the broader community.

Trefwoorden

site

Rice Design Alliance

Type Prijsvraag

Doelgroep Architects

Meer informatie Rice University, MS 51, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005

Kosten $ 99,-

Prijs $5,000 award

Prijsuitreiking 4 april

E-mail

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