I've teamed up with a couple interior designers, another landscape architect and an architecture student for a design competition. The competition is the USGBC Natural Talent competition and is only open to designers within 5 years of graduation. Lucky me, I qualify! We're working to design a house for Habitat for Humanity that meets/exceeds the minimum LEED standards for homes. The deadline for submissions is May 31st, so I can't share too much until then, but I'm very excited about the possibilities of this project.
A few facts about the project:
- Project site is in McHenry County (Illinois)
- 1 in 17 residents in McHenry county lives in poverty. The rate has tripled since 1980.
- Affordable housing is defined as paying no more than 30% of your income to household expenses.
- 1/2 of McHenry residents pay more than 30% of their income to household expenses.
- Habitat for Humanity provides affordable housing to low income families at cost.
- Homes are usually built in a weekend with volunteer workers and the homeowner.
- Many families stay in these homes through retirement.
- Our home design must be a modest 1200 sf, 3 bedroom, 1 bath home, intended for a 4 person family with less than $25,000/yr annual income.
The winners of the Chicago competition go on to compete in the national competition. The overall winners will work with Habitat for Humanity to make these home plans a reality to be used for multiple Habitat for Humanity projects. Like I said, I'm excited about the possibilities.
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