Prototyping Attainability

Affordable Housing is an expansive, multifaceted, and interdisciplinary problem that is currently considered a national crisis. The term affordable housing, however, is often conflated with subsidized housing – government support for the very needy – but the housing crisis not only impacts those at an extremely low-income levels but those at low to middle-income levels too. In the absence of direct public investment solutions, author, Quinlan McFadden explores attainable, urban infill prototypes that work towards providing diverse housing solutions for neighborhoods. Together, these prototypes propose design and public policy changes, challenging the reader to consider the spectrum of pathways to attainable housing, such as neighborhood characteristics and density, processes for zoning and policy approvals, and program implementation

The Case Studies

  • Urban Density Activator (UDA)

    With rising land costs and housing stock shortages, many first-time homebuyers are in need of sensible-sized homes to live in and gain equity. Similar to the traditional ADU approach, the Urban Density Activator (UDA) serves as an incremental approach to building equity and neighborhoods by allowing individuals to purchase a home they can afford without taking away housing stock from another demographic or purchasing a home that is significantly outside of their means.

  • Slip(ping) In Higher Standards

    This typology provides a good example of how to address the shortage of attainable rental options with minimal amounts of land. Combining existing policy allowing for Slip Ins with higher design standards and maximizing floor plans to allow for a higher quality of life through usable areas, dual directions of day light, and efficient spaces.

  • Neighbor - Type

    Expanding the Neighbor-Type House into a large model creates denser, more sustainable, and more social living conditions. Through a variation of two-story homes, ranches, and duplexes, 17 housing units occupy the site. By encouraging a range of different inhabitants to live in the area, Neighbor-Type transforms Lincoln’s typical suburban experience into a richly diverse community where individuality and quality of life are abundant.