EVENTS
Maria Ogrydziak ARCHITECTURE
ACTION THROUGH ARCHITECTURE FOR HOMELESS HOUSING
W
ith a creative vision, architect “I wanted a far departure from an
Maria Ogrydziak has lent institutional, monolithic look,” says
her skill and talent to Paul’s Ogrydziak. “Paul’s Place will be an
Place, an innovative project tackling one appealing, positive place that promotes a
of today’s biggest humanitarian crises — sense of community, and its structure will
homelessness. “I knew that architecture also represent the cycle of progress people
could help make great strides toward a make from the first through fourth floors.”
solution to homelessness in the city of
Davis,” she says.
The first floor will house an enhanced
DCMH resource center with showers,
As the designer of Paul’s Place, Ogrydziak restrooms, laundry facilities and four
gathered input from volunteers who work emergency shelter beds, and the second
with the homeless, law enforcement, floor will feature bridge housing — a
former Mayor Robb Davis, and Davis residence consisting of 10 single-occupancy
Community Meals and Housing executive bedrooms, with shared kitchen, family
director Bill Pride, among many others. room, bathrooms and laundry. The
“Collaboration helped design this third and fourth floors offer permanent
building,” she says. “A variety of people supportive housing with 18 300-square-foot
were involved in a variety of ways to private microhomes.
envision this community project.”
“Davis can set an example with this
Paul’s Place is more than a building. It’s a project,” Ogrydziak says. “This concept
warm, welcoming and highly functional can be replicated in other communities,
village. Breaking ground next year, this even within big cities like Sacramento
four-floor collage of tiny houses with on-site because big cities are made up of individual
support and resources will take the place neighborhoods. With people contributing
of the aging single-story DCMH facility time, money and expertise in a collaborative
currently at 1111 H Street in Davis. effort, it’s a viable approach to dealing with
a widespread problem.”
90
comstocksmag.com | 201 9
“
Paul’s Place is a
community project
that we can all be
proud of and an
example to other
cities of what they
can achieve for
their homeless
populations
— MARIA OGRYDZIAK
”
Architect of Paul’s Place
241 B Street
Davis, CA 95616
530.400.5030
[email protected]
oarch.com
SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SUPPLEMENT