Professor Ted Shelton
Project Statement
Recognizing the need for Missing Middle Housing, the project works to form an adaptable piece within the larger Beaumont Corridor. By increasing access and implementing sustainable building practices and materials, the structures are designed to last and adapt over time. The design seeks to decrease the need for the automobile and plan for a more pedestrian and bicyclist-oriented future.
The work below is a selection of the results of a collaborative effort with fellow students. Carson Davis and I worked as project partners, collaborating on the site design with Alexa Castillo and Elsie O'Connell.
AIA cote/LEED Framework
Design for integration:
Maximizing outdoor space and using orientation to engage passive design elements will ground the development of the project. Taking cues from the surrounding environment, like the houses and other buildings nearby, provides a strategy for designing for integration. Seeking local materials and capturing natural light within the spaces, will engage the senses and help people form a connection with the site. Implementing native landscaping elements increases not only environmental value but also benefits the project socially and economically. The area has a rich history of working-class individuals and is adjacent to Knoxville College, which gives insight into what the neighborhood once was and the potential that it holds today. The vacant lot in which the design will sit has the potential to form the edge of a corridor and contribute to a more walkable urban fabric.
Design for equitable communities:
By expanding the Beaumont corridor, this project aims to provide a more walkable, pedestrian-centric experience, to a place that was divided by the insertion of the highway system. The project will hopefully contribute to diversity by increasing the housing density on the site, providing ample green space, and establishing a mixed-use commercial aspect. Taking a look at the neighborhood and the larger community and analyzing opportunities for growth and connection will help the project promote greater social equity and strengthen the community relationship within Knoxville. Establishing more density and working in cost-efficient and environmentally friendly ways, can help to provide housing to those who have been excluded from the options available in the current housing market. For example, the teachers at the school across the street, or multi-generational families in the community, will have a place in which they can feel welcome and safe, ultimately strengthening the broader sense of community.
Design for ecosystems:
The current site conditions are not supportive of a thriving ecosystem. The majority of the lot is covered in surface parking and the foundation remnants of the previous structure. The topography of the site can be used as an advantage for dispensing plant life and prompting ecosystem growth. The project will have ample green space for inhabitants to access, restoring more of the natural environment. Reducing construction needs and waste by utilizing what is already there, will help reduce noise and heat pollution. Using more ground cover will positively impact air quality and reduce solar radiation in the area.
Design for water:
The topographical slope of the site can be used as a vehicle for water distribution. Contributing to the larger scale of the community and area the site can promote a healthy watershed. Permeable surfaces and native ground cover will increase rainwater infiltration, helping groundwater levels remain steady. This can also act as a filter to decrease the amount of pollutants, within storm/rainwater, that re-enter the cycle.
Design for economy:
Low-emission, recycled materials will make up the majority of the project along with the reuse of elements already situated on the site. Reusing the concrete that is currently the parking surface will be one of the main ways to reduce economic impacts. The existing retaining wall system will also be integrated into the design of the new structure. Using standard, natural elements in a qualitatively beneficial way will keep the cost down while having the durability to last long-term. The performance of the design elements, like material use and adaptability will make the space feel abundant, without exhausting available means.
Design for energy:
Using passive design strategies and looking into energy goals gives a baseline for design. Limiting exposure on southern facades but taking advantage of light from the north, is one way that energy will be considered. Lower thermal gain decreases the amount of energy needed to cool a space and capturing daylight reduces artificial lighting needs. Multi-facadal apertures can provide cross-ventilation potential while thinking about vertical movement can take advantage of stack ventilation. Operable shading devices are another great design strategy that lowers energy use.
Design for well-being:
Improving the outdoor space and walkability of the area can help promote healthier lifestyles for community members. Not only does this promote physical activity but it also reduces carbon emissions from vehicular transportation. This also increases the connection with nature and place. Greater occupant comfort will be provided by the adaptability of the design, promoting the use of passive strategies in a way that best suits the occupants’ needs. Selecting materials that have low VOC, will contribute to a greater reduction in toxic materials and air pollutants in the environment (beyond just Knoxville). Which also improves indoor air quality and leads to physical and mental well-being.
Design for resources:
Using resources that are already on-site will reduce construction and supply chain waste. Along with the reuse strategy, material sourcing will be local for the remainder of the project. Focusing on durable natural materials that do not release toxins back into the environment is a main focus for the project. Working within the community will provide opportunities for local craftsmen to engage in the project and expand their knowledge through collaboration.