Shifted Stack Housing
_Attainable, sustainable, and communal living in Sacramento
Like many cities around the country, Sacramento is revising its zoning to spur multifamily housing development. Our client asked us to create a communal, sustainable, and cost-effective housing proposal for his typically-sized lot. Because it will be one of the first projects under the new zoning, he wants it to be a positive example of “gentle density” to help pave the way for similar projects in the future.
The existing neighborhood is a mix of low-slung single-family homes with pitched roofs. Creating a contextual building with five times the units was a clear challenge! To solve this, we split the building’s mass into two volumes: a shorter, smaller one toward the front to draw the eye and a taller, larger one toward the back to house the bulk of the units. Aligning the building’s face with its neighbors and matching their width further roots the building in the context.
The existing neighborhood is a mix of low-slung single-family homes with pitched roofs. Creating a contextual building with five times the units was a clear challenge! To solve this, we split the building’s mass into two volumes: a shorter, smaller one toward the front to draw the eye and a taller, larger one toward the back to house the bulk of the units. Aligning the building’s face with its neighbors and matching their width further roots the building in the context.
5-units on a typical single-family lot, with shared amenities and straw-filled exterior walls
The two-story volume at the street ties the building to the scale of the neighboring homes, while the rear volume creates the density needed for a vibrant, sustainable community
Ground Floor Plan, from left:
- Rear yard with communal gardens, clotheslines, and patio
- 2-bed unit
- Communal laundry, stair, and lobby
- 1-bed unit
- Entry path with bike parking
The back yard is for gathering, gardening, and drying clothes
The South-facing entry is a welcoming place for chance encounters
Residents access the rear yard through a communal laundry room
Vertical battens provide a place for plants to grow
Timeline
2024-Status
On HoldLocation
Sacramento, CaliforniaServices
- Architectural Design
-
Feasibility Study
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Zoning Analysis
Team
- Design partnership with Object Projects
- Croft, Prefab Consultant & Straw Panel Provider
Tags
Attainable, Communal, Housing, Carbon Smart, Prefab, Missing MiddleStats
- 3-stories
- 5 units:
2 one-beds
1 two-bed
2 three-beds -
Lot Size: 5,310 sf (0.12 acres)
- Dwellings per Acre: 42
- Bedrooms per Acre: 84
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Amenities: Shared Laundry, Communal Garden, Bike Parking