11
12
PERRY STREET
10
9 1 4
2
3
3
5
7
6
11 SITE PLAN 1 ENTRANCE 2 LOBBY 3 OFFICES 4 KITCHEN 5 DINING 6 COMMUNITY ROOM 7 LIBRARY 8 BUSINESS CENTER 9 BACK PORCH 10 BBQ PATIO 11 STORAGE 12 PARKING
8
FOSTER STREET
Natural light fills the reception and community areas of the ground floor. The open circulation breezeways provide informal gathering spots for the residents. On the exterior, the building’s ascending counterclockwise spiral massing addresses the residential scale of the neighborhood.
services and activities bring tenants together and build community while minimizing the need for off-site appointments and travel. The end result is an extremely effective design, providing simple and elegant solutions that support New Hope’s goal to keep rental rates below market prices. 4415 Perry Street was financed without carrying any debt, through Federal Housing Tax Credits; contributions from private foundations, corporations, churches, and individual donors; and a vital public-private partnership with the City of Houston. The integrated sustainable design reduces maintenance and operations costs, ensuring the project’s continued economic viability. Executive Director Joy Horak-Brown says, “We have to make smart choices to deliver lasting, high design without a high-design budget.” As New Hope Housing celebrates its 20th anniversary by achieving 1,000 units, Horak-Brown looks forward to the future and notes that,
On-site services and activities bring tenants together and build community while minimizing the need for off-site appointments and travel. while the organization will continue to develop SRO projects, it will extend its focus to helping families and seniors to support the needs of the community. The project is leading the way to a new normal, not just for its residents, but as an example of how good design is transformative and improves lives. As one of the residents, Danatte, says, “This place gives people hope to become more self-sufficient, more confident in their potential.” She adds that New Hope’s projects “support people as they struggle to change their lives. Perry Street is a wonderful project. I hope there will be many more.” Filo Castore, AIA, is an associate principal at Perkins+Will Houston, where he leads the Corporate, Commercial, and Civic Sectors.
5/6 2013
Texas Architect 29