Housing Hope - Madrona Highlands
Affordable Multi-family Housing
Housing Hope is a non-profit housing developer that works to provide a pathway to help people escape the cycle of homelessness. I am shepherding 2 affordable multifamily housing projects from early concept design through construction. Each of these complexes are 52 units and provide integrated commercial area including offices, food pantry, social services and multi-purpose rooms.
Providing dignified housing is just one approach to a complex social problem such as homelessness. The organization provides emergency short-term housing, longer term affordable rentals and a program that provides a pathway for residents to take part in building a home that they will own. This route toward permanent housing makes the developer unique and makes these projects close to my heart. Throughout these various steps, Housing Hope provides child care services, community support, emotional and medical support, job training, and various jobs that can help residents develop personal finanacial stability and a sense of pride in their community.
Part of Housing Hope’s design direction is to incorporate color into the design. They believe color brightens up communities. I tend to agree, however using colors to create a building of distinction while preserving the residential dignity can be a challenge. In the end, we used color as a way finding device to give each building a unique identity within the context of a harmonious design. At Madrona Highlands, we aimed for tones that can be found in nature such as ochre yellow, seafoam blue, mossy green, and rusty orange and used vibrant accents around the exterior of the 4 building complex. Inside the courtyard, this palette is subdued and complemented by communal patios and exposed stair structures.
Owner: Housing Hope
Architect: ARC Architects
Project Architect: Ryan Boone
Structural Engineer: Swenson Say Fagét Structural Engineers
Civil Engineer: Harmson
Landscape Architect: MIG
Mechanical / Plumbing Engineer: Ecotope
Electrical Engineer: TFWB Engineers
Phase: Under construction, estimated completion September 2024
Location: Lynnwood, WA