Los Angeles, California, USA
Together with the Bureau of Engineering for the City of Los Angeles, Lehrer Architects has designed an efficient, yet functional design using prefabricated pallet shelters.
“For us, projects like this are exhilarating. Political, time, and cost constraints were severe—demanding extreme design discipline and chops,” states Michael B. Lehrer, Founding Partner of Lehrer Architects.
“Our focus was to honor, nurture and restore a modicum of wholeness and delight to our fellow citizens without homes.”
“Every move is conceived to add significant value and be cost-neutral: in that vein, color is used extensively to create a sense of community and places of respect, dignity and joy.”
The architects brought character to the project through vibrant colors, shaping a new sense of community and restoring dignity through design.
Alexandria Park Tiny Homes Village honors the homeless community with its colorful palate and ample congregation spaces.
The development represents an intermediary step in the city’s strategy of helping homeless people access permanent housing.
The defining feature of the projects is the use of colour, which turns the strictly functional solution into a visually stimulating space that can foster a community.
This is a Bridge Home project utilizing Pallet Shelter units to house up to 200 occupants (103 during COVID occupancy limitations)
The site was previously occupied by a large homeless community.
The site selection allows the city to provide housing and services without displacing its clients while bringing much-needed utilities and other improvements to an under-developed and under-funded public space.
The design brings a bright and playful composition to an existing young park tree grove.
Designed and built-in record time, the “bridge” shelters use prefabricated modules, which are easily assembled and can be accommodated onto various infill sites
Shelters are placed in a way to preserve the trees, utilizing their shade, and creating significant central community spaces.
Each unit provides shelter for one or two people
The whole development is created for a total of 103 units and 200 beds.
The same modules are also arranged to house all aspects of the program comprising collective dining and gathering space, showers, laundry, secure storage and assistance with accessing city service.
A Fire Access Lane required due to the deep site and long access distance from Laurel Canyon Blvd., is leveraged as the organizing formal spine, and the Village’s main communal pedestrian boulevard, comparable to any of LA’s great pedestrian-oriented streets.
Project: Victoria Tiny Homes Village
Architects: Lehrer Architects LA, Inc.
General Contractor: Ford Construction
MEP Engineers: Alfa Tech
Civil Engineers: Barbara Hall &. Associates, PE
Client: Bureau of Engineering, City of Los Angeles
Photographs Courtesy of the Architects