Portland, Oregon, USA
Holst Architecture, together with The Transition Projects have designed this kit of parts, Argyle Gardens as the first buildout of LISAH (Low Income Single Adult Housing), a dignified co-housing model designed to accommodate an optimum number of people to share community space and support.
The modular system can be configured as formerly homeless, workforce, or student housing, or to house intergenerational families together.
Located in the Kenton neighborhood of Portland, the four buildings sit on a transitional site between a neighborhood and an industrial zone close to the MAX light rail line, bus lines, a park, and commercial shopping areas.
The largest building contains thirty-five 220 square foot studio apartment units.
A large community room, laundry facilities, and support service offices, serve as a central hub and communal gathering space for all residents.
Each of three cohousing buildings feature two six-bedroom units with two shared bathrooms and a large kitchen.
Each building takes a simple rectilinear form with a slice removed to reveal color and translucent polycarbonate panels that bring vibrancy to the composition.
Each building is composed of modular units constructed offsite. The size of the modules are maximized for efficiency and to minimize transportation costs.
The site’s steep topography and existing vegetation provide privacy but challenged the design team to locate the buildings in a way that balances ADA access requirements, environmental considerations, and the maintenance of the large staging area required for modular construction of Phases 1 and 2.
The resulting calibration meets those needs while minimizing direct solar heat gain on the polycarbonate walls, enabling the main entry stair towers to be unconditioned spaces.
The Transition Projects and Holst team involved the progressive, supportive Kenton neighborhood in the development of the project from the beginning.
By offering deeply affordable units with supportive services and adjacent outdoor space, Argyle Gardens will help Kenton alleviate other issues related to homelessness in the area.
For over 50 years, Transition Projects has delivered life-saving and life-changing assistance to some of Portland’s most vulnerable residents. Whether by helping a homeless veteran and her family find housing, sheltering hundreds of people each night with nowhere else to turn, or opening new pathways to employment, Transition Projects represents an invaluable part of Portland’s social fabric.
Argyle Gardens opened to residents in April 2020.
Architects: Holst Architecture
Client: The Transition Projects
