INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Prefabrication made sense for Star Apartments for many reasons . For one , Skid Row , which is located in the middle of downtown L . A ., doesn ’ t have much room for a traditional construction site . Prefab construction also allowed the architects to lift an entirely new building on top of the existing one-storey structure .
– Michael Maltzan , architect at Michael Maltzan Architecture
1
The project ’ s unique form is an inventive solution to the project ’ s design challenge : to build affordable housing units over an existing ground floor structure . Star Apartments ’ gravity-defying design is made possible by using light-frame prefabricated wood construction . The project is not only an architectural spectacle but a deliberate effort to redefine affordable housing as both beautiful and functional — in turn , helping to reintegrate individuals who have been excluded from housing . By using a lighter-weight prefabricated wood system , Maltzan was able to build an entirely new structure atop the existing one-storey building footprint . To residents ’ gain , the lower cost of the prefabricated wood-frame units and savings from faster construction afforded higher-quality materials in the apartment units .
THE PRESSING NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
The demand for affordable housing is outpacing supply nationwide , with new multifamily units renting at prices cost-prohibitive for middle- and low-income renters . Nearly two-thirds of renters across the U . S . say they can ’ t afford to buy a home , and saving for a down payment is out of reach when home prices are rising at twice the rate of wage growth . These challenges , along with a year-long pandemic , have only intensified America ’ s housing problems .
2
ALL PHOTOS : MICHAEL MALTZAN ARCHITECTURE
One in four renter households in the US pays more than half their income on rent , and another 610 000 people have no home at all .
Housing as a social determinant of health and well-being is brought to light in a plethora of research . And access to affordable housing is a cornerstone to improving quality of life , remediating inequality , addressing social problems , and reducing unemployment .
Making housing more affordable is a complex issue with no single solution . Keep reading to learn about four projects that are demonstrating how materials like light-frame and mass timber wood construction , along with fresh approaches to design , can offer flexibility and play a role in curbing costs by streamlining fabrication , assembly , and installation .
We needed to devise a model for another kind of urban space . Prefab emerged as the most direct and efficient approach , addressing issues from technical and financial to social and urban .
– Michael Maltzan , architect at Michael Maltzan Architecture
1 and 2 : Merits of modular : The Star Apartment ’ s wood-framed units were built in a factory just outside of Boise , Idaho . They were transported on pallets , trucked on a flatbed , and hoisted into place with a crane upon arrival .
www . timberiq . co . za // OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2021 7