Common Recipe

Walnut Ridge, Austin, TX, United States

The recent influx of immigrants at the US-Mexico border has brought a multitude of health concerns due to the difficult journey and harsh conditions in detention facilities.

An affordable housing development in Austin, Texas, a city renowned for its welcoming and inclusive attitude towards immigrants, has established programs and services to support and protect its immigrants. By providing shared kitchen and garden, immigrants can grow and cook their wholesome foods, share meals with neighbors, and foster social connections.

Austin, Texas, serves as an important site for this project due to its geographical proximity to the US-Mexico border. Situated within the state of Texas, Austin is relatively close to the border region where many immigrants first enter the United States. Austin experiences direct impacts from immigration flows, making it an ideal location to address the health and social challenges faced by immigrants.

Additionally, Austin’s reputation for being a welcoming and inclusive city, along with its established programs and services to support immigrants, provides a supportive environment for implementing initiatives aimed at promoting immigrant well-being. By leveraging its proximity to the border and its community infrastructure, Austin can play a crucial role in proposing solutions to address the needs of immigrant communities.

The welcome center serves as the initial point of contact for immigrants, offering a warm reception and essential services. Located at the highest elevation of the site, immigrants arriving at the bus terminal are greeted with coffee and fresh food at the welcoming hall. The facility is thoughtfully designed, with clustered amenities including administration offices and bathrooms for efficient management. On the other side, spaces are dedicated to current residents and neighbors, with a cafeteria and grocery store providing access to fresh ingredients. Additionally, a small pharmacy offers essential immunizations and urgent care, while partnerships with AT&T and Samsung provide vital lifelines for newly arrived immigrants through vendor setups.

The residential area is meticulously designed to accommodate the increasing influx of immigrants arriving from the US-Mexico border region. Its modular design allows for apartments to be rearranged, expanded, or contracted in response to the changing demands of social housing. Each housing unit is prefabricated using cross-laminated timber and is designated a specific function to cater to different types of households.

The modular system begins with a base studio-type unit, serving as the cornerstone for further expansion. For example, a one-bedroom unit features a notch designed to attach a micro-unit, which can function as a vendor stall or a café, thus offering immediate business opportunities for migrants. Alternatively, the additional micro-unit can serve as supplementary housing, accommodating more residents within the same apartment space. The flexibility inherent in the modular design renders it a sustainable and adaptable solution to the challenges of urban housing provision in areas experiencing rapid demographic shifts.

Each module is constructed using cross laminated timber. The modules are stacked on top of each other on the site. A single loaded corridor attached to one side of the building creates an elevated avenue, providing residents with a small porch area outside their apartment units.

The facade intended to minimize excess wall construction and reduce the carbon footprint. It features a cork facade, which acts as both insulation and exterior finish. This high R-Value material not only enhances thermal comfort for residents but also contributes to sustainable architectural practices. In fact, the cork facade achieves a net carbon of -116.229 kg CO2 equivalent per cubic meter of insulation cork board, making it a highly environmentally friendly option.

The community center fosters a sense of belonging and unity among immigrants with diverse backgrounds. Positioned prominently on the North side, the community harvestry allows immigrants to cultivate vegetables and herbs rooted in their own cultures. Sharing the harvest creates a non-verbal connection and builds a “common recipe” for the community.

Additionally, the center features maker and repair hubs where residents can share skills and collaborate on projects. A daycare center offers early education programs and infant care services. The building massing creates a spacious open plaza in the middle, encouraging spontaneous activities and interactions, further strengthening the sense of community among residents.