Holistic Housing Design Toolkit: Imagine Your Community

5 Guiding Principles, 12 Strategies and 36 Design Actions

Imagine Your Community

What core values and attributes make up your ideal community?

Hawai‘i Housing Lab was ignited by a collaboration between the Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority and the University of Hawai‘i through the UH Community Design Center

© 2023 Karla Sierralta & Brian Strawn

In this set:

• 5 Guiding Principles

• 12 Design Strategies

• 36 Design Actions For Holistic Housing

5 Guiding Principles

12 Design Strategies

36 Design Actions

What’s on the card?

Reference

Number Specific to the Design Action

Illustration

Design vignettes

Insight Research findings

Agents

6 groups

Design Strategy

12 strategies

Design Action

36 actions

Realms of Inhabitation

6 realms Values

3 Holistic Housing values

Think about:

What core values and attributes make up your ideal community?

Sort by:

• Values - Foundational attributes that define Holistic Housing.

• Realms of Inhabitation - Types of spaces we inhabit from small to large, both physical and digital.

• Agents - Active participants in designing, building, creating, and supporting Holistic Housing.

Pair with:

• Case Study Cards

Compare to:

• Design Considerations in Density Alphabet

Values:

Walkable (W)

Suggesting respect for the human scale, fostering social connections, using space efficiently, and supporting local businesses, overall relating to walkable neighborhoods and cities.

Sustainable (S)

Proposing using resources wisely and maximizing efficiency through the use of passive design strategies, directly referencing sustainability and resiliency.

Equitable (E)

Empowering citizens through safe, affordable, and accessible living for all, demanding equity.

Realms of Inhabitation:

Unit (U) Building (Bldg)

The private spaces only accessible to the inhabitants.

Structures housing two or more dwelling units with potentially shared access, circulation, services, and amenities.

Lot/Block (LB)

One or more buildings may exist within the same parcel. Multiple parcels my be organized as blocks. Shared elements may include pathways, sidewalks, streets, parking, outdoor spaces, open plazas, mixed uses.

Neighborhood (N)

These segments of a town or city may have common boundaries, social or physical. Neighborhoods share infrastructure and common spaces as parks, schools, markets or other places for daily life.

Community (C)

Several neighborhoods might make up a community. Communities are also defined by their values, culture, and traditions.

Digital/Programs (DP)

The digital realm has become a critical connective element of our daily lives and serves as a place to learn, communicate and connect with others.

Federal, state and/or city funded programs that support housing and residents in daily operations.

Agents:

Community Members (Engagement across all stages)

Architects, Designers (Arch)

Current/future residents and local citizens need to be included in the design and planning process of the spaces they inhabit.

Responsible for the design of the spaces we inhabit from the scale of the unit to the community.

Landscape Architects, Urban Designers, Planners (LUP)

Developers, Builders (Dev)

Institutions, Organizations (Org) Legislators, Government (Gov)

Designing and planning outdoor settings from the scale of the building to the community.

Planning, financing, constructing and managing properties.

Non-profits or government institutions managing daily operations and/or supportive programs.

Public officials responsible for determining zoning, laws, regulations and funding that impact holistic housing.

Digital Designers, Programmers (UI/UX)

Developing, coding and designing the software, user interfaces, experiences and data that support physical settings and programs.

Design Actions by Values:

Please note design actions may occur in multiple categories and depending on specific criteria may or may not appear as listed above.

Design Actions by Agents:

Please note design actions may occur in multiple categories and depending on specific criteria may or may not appear as listed above.

Design Actions by Realms of Inhabitation:

Please note design actions may occur in multiple categories and depending on specific criteria may or may not appear as listed above.

Mapping Design Actions to Realms of Inhabitation

This diagram shows where different design actions are situated within a nested understanding of domesticity.

IWalkable, Sustainable and Equitable

Holistic housing is pedestrian-centered, environmentally friendly, and considers socioeconomic equity. Holistic Housing is supported by incentives, programs and platforms that provide long term stability for residents.

Equitable

Home is Everything II

Holistic housing is defined as a central component of a system rather than an isolated entity. Holistic Housing relies on a nested understanding of dwelling, including multiple scales of engagement, and the tangible and intangible elements of design.

Closed Loops III

Holistic housing is an integral part of both the natural and built environments. It carefully considers inputs and outputs, acknowledging the spatial limitations and finite resources defining island communities.

All Hands on Deck IV

Holistic housing is generated through an inclusive design process. It invites the community to actively participate across the entire planning and design process, from early phase strategy sessions to ideation workshops to final decision making.

Government Agencies Non Profits

Design Experts

Community Residents Developers

Students CommunityBusiness

Builders

VExtreme Events

Holistic housing supports the physical, mental, social, educational, and economic well being of its residents through moments of crisis.

Plan for Change Enable co- and multigenerational living 1 .1

Generous shared spaces and common amenities support comfortable co-living and multi-generational households.

Mom,

Plan for Change

Propose adaptable spaces

Open floor plans and movable elements allow residents to organize their spaces to accommodate changing needs.

1.3

Plan for Change Offer Smart Storage

Slippers & Mail

Built-in furniture

Realms of Inhabitation

2.1

Connect Neighbors Facilitate friendly interactions

A variety of spaces can enrich neighborly relations and allow for improvised and dynamic conversations.

Social platforms keep neighbors updated on current issues, community events, and resource availability.

Connect Neighbors Open sight lines

While maintaining privacy, direct sightlines onto common spaces, and access points improve the sense of security.

Mix Uses Promote hybrid neighborhoods 3.1

1/4 mile radius = 5 minute walk

The possibility of living, working, and playing within the same community increases productivity and reduces long commute times.

Mix Uses Weave in parks and plazas 3.2

1/4 mile radius = 5 minute walk

Access to outdoor public spaces connects residents to nature, provides opportunities for social interaction, and improves health.

Realms of Inhabitation

3.3

Mix Uses Blend civic spaces into daily life

1/4 mile radius = 5 minute walk

Civic spaces serve the community and provide a forum for celebrations, traditions, culture, freedom of speech, and other public events.

Realms of Inhabitation

Put People First Respect human scale 4.1

Neighborhoods scaled to human dimensions create comfortable and inviting spaces.

Realms of Inhabitation

Put People First Democratize the street

Streets designed with pedestrians and cyclists in mind provide safe, active spaces for moving and socializing.

Put People First Amplify community mobility 4.3

1/4 mile radius = 5 minute walk

A network of transportation options such as bus, rail, bike, and rideshare increases connectivity.

Realms of Inhabitation

Work With Nature Foster water consciousness

Designs that integrate natural cycles for water regeneration throughout buildings and sites minimize environmental impacts.

Work With Nature Leverage cross breezes

Site, building, and unit layouts that take advantage of cross breezes naturally cool interior spaces.

Work With Nature Mind the Sun

The building’s position and its materials contribute to the design of comfortable spaces and energy consumption/generation.

Multiple productive lands

Orchards

Gardens allow residents to grow and share the food they produce and foster community interaction.

Think Long Term Redefine waste

Reducing, reusing, and recycling minimize waste and extend the life of existing products and buildings.

Spark skill-sharing

Learning opportunities allow residents to remain active and connected to their communities as life circumstances change.

Easy and accessible opportunities to exercise outdoors promote health and wellbeing.

7.2

Nurture Healthy Citizens Provide lānais for all

Realms of Inhabitation

Nurture Healthy Citizens Protect views & privacy

Lānais are spaces in between private and public realms, offering views of the sky or surroundings, but where residents still feel a need for privacy.

Realms of Inhabitation

Build Responsibly Source regional materials 8.1

Materials sourced regionally and locally decrease construction costs and carbon emissions.

Build Responsibly Aim for Efficiency

Carefully planned construction processes and locally appropriate building techniques provide easy, cost-effective construction and long term maintenance solutions.

Build Responsibly Anticipate future change

Buildings designed with flexibility in mind facilitate adaptive reuse and serve communities longer.

Alternative systems such as rent-based investment, enable ownership opportunities for more citizens.

9.2

Expand Economic Opportunities Bridge the gap

Live/work units and affordable multi-use spaces provide opportunities for generating income in the neighborhood.

Make Data Accessible Track housing availability

Mobile apps provide future residents with live updates on housing availability and cost.

Digital dashboards improve communication with property managers and maintenance.

Make Data Accessible Map alternative paths to long-term housing

Action plans with a step-by-step process to owning a home help residents set and achieve goals.

Develop Diversity Set aside flex space

Compact residences may not provide spaces for activities such as socializing, or other communal gatherings.

Develop Diversity Prioritize flexibility & variety

Every household is different, and residents’ needs change over time.

multiple languages

Multilingual signs communicate information to all.

Realms of Inhabitation

Design for All Take play seriously

Recreation spaces tailored to the needs of all ages promote physical and cognitive strength.

Realms of Inhabitation

Design for All Support aging in place

Spaces and environments designed for all people, regardless of age, size, ability, or disability, improve quality of life.

Pathways and circulation designed for people of all abilities provide equal access to facilities and functions.