Bishal Thapa

Nepal

In high school, class was only about preparing you for an exam. At U of I, the focus was more on application and trying new and different things and exploring new opportunities – like research. I learned getting your feet wet is important. And if you don’t like something, you’re not stuck.

EXPLORING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Bishal Thapa ’21 examined ways sustainable agriculture could help mitigate climate change.

THINKING SMALL

By David Jackson ’92

Collaboration addresses Affordable Housing

Graduate students and a professor from the College of Art and Architecture’s Design-Build program teamed up with a Portland, Oregon, architect and alumnus and the Moscow Affordable Housing Trust to begin constructing six small houses in Moscow. While the Lupine Flats project addresses affordable housing issues specific to the Moscow area, it’s an innovative solution to a statewide problem.

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THE PLAYERS

Moscow Affordable Housing Trust purchased 1.2 acres of land in south Moscow and platted it for 17 homes in 2019. After discussions about the Lupine Flats project, the trust set aside a section of the land for construction of the homes.

WHY IT WORKS

Moscow Affordable Housing Trust has worked with the City of Moscow, Latah County and private philanthropists to raise funds to subsidize the gap between the total project costs and the selling price of the house.

THE VALUE OF FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE

“Students not only designing the house but also building it is very valuable. When we can get architecture students in the field and have them build what they’ve designed, it makes them better architects.”

— Mark Engberg ’84, principal of COLAB Architecture + Urban Design, of Portland, Oregon

THE NEED

“Moscow has a lot of larger residential homes, a lot of rental houses and a lot of apartments. What you don’t see here are smaller houses for smaller families who want to live in a nice house with a price tag they can afford.”

— Randy Teal, professional contractor, professor and head of the University of Idaho architecture program

WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED

“We got to do the schematic design work, then create the construction drawing and detailing, and now we actually get to build it. Building this house in the Moscow community, a place that I’ve called home for five years, makes it extra special.”

— Brenna Church, a master’s of architecture student from Zillah, Washington

Builders anticipate incorporating sustainable materials into future homes by taking advantage of advances in 3-D printing to create building materials out of wood waste and partnering with companies such as Jeromebased Hempitecture, which produces insulation products from hemp fiber.

One home will be built by CAA graduate students each summer until 2027. Although the homes are being built in Idaho, they will be constructed to Washington energy code requirements, meaning they will be energy efficient and will cost less to maintain.