MOSCOW AFFORDABLE HOUSING, COLLABORATIVE DESIGN BUILD PROJECT MOSCOW, ID

The Moscow Affordable Housing Trust (MAHT) together with the University of Idaho design-build students addressed the immense need for affordable housing in Moscow, ID with most of the residents being middle class. With this problem in mind, we sought to develop a flexible housing that would be cheap and easy to be built by local contractors.

This student-led design, in collaboration with the MAHT, created a plan for a twin- house that emphasized ease of construction, material availability, and expansion through phases. Starting with site visits and reviewing code, we decided the best way to fulfill our goal was to allow the landscape to help shape the design. The sloped site allowed for a main level entrance that then transitions into a private deck over a basement garage. There are a total of three floors filled with rooms and spaces with their own unique traits, allowing for the units to each speak for themselves. It models simple construction methods while also providing customization depending on the client’s needs and site.

Parti Diagrams

Functionally, one half of the building contains private rooms and a plumbing core with bathroom and kitchen bar on either side; the other half is an open plan, intended to serve as a living room, gathering space, and the balcony.