The cost of new construction is so high that we’re not seeing starter homes, we’re not seeing affordable single-family homes being built.

Sarah Brune
Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago

Details
Humboldt Park, Chicago, Illinois
1,200 sf / New Construction
Design Competition 2019

Architect Notes
“Amplify” proposes a new, incremental approach to housing that can reduce common cost, time, and permit-related barriers for Chicago homeowners. This framework builds on existing Chicago Zoning Ordinance (CZO) concepts and local labor to provide quality design and quick approval for new, easily-adaptable urban homes.

Amplify activates Chicago’s wealth of talented architects to create a database of incremental housing plans designed with future expansion in-mind. These can be as simple as a one-story home with an unfinished basement. The database will include numerous expansion modules - for both the primary home, and expansion options for a live-work garage - which could be activated for future use depending on the owner’s individual needs. By simplifying the renovation permit process, homeowners will be able to avoid a costly major renovation and only build what they need, when they need it.

Popularized by Sears Roebuck & Co. in the early 20th century, the concept of high-quality “kit homes” has regained momentum throughout the country in recent years. Chicago’s unique building codes currently make such out-of-state products impractical in our city, but by designing a series of homes that are tailored to local code and climate considerations the “kit home” approach could be reborn. For a city with standard lot sizes, a surplus of vacant parcels, flat terrain, and a proud tradition of local tradesmen, this is a concept with transformational civic potential.

Additional Info
Read Our Full Proposal Here, January 2018
AIA Chicago Disruptive Design Competition