Architecture’s Role In Ending Homelessness
The Downtown News’ editorial, “Attractive and Affordable,” how architecture helps solve homelessness, is correctly portrayed.
I actually studied architecture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, a school on the coast of central California that is well-known for putting out good architects. I’ve always felt that good design of affordable housing can contribute to ending homelessness. I remember studying how affordable housing was designed around the world—particularly in large urban slum areas.
How does architecture help? Probably the biggest barrier to building affordable housing is finding neighborhoods that will accept these new developments. The Not-In-My-Backyard (NIMBY) sentiment is strong. Having top-notch architects design buildings that are better designed than even the housing around them helps confront NIMBY attitudes.
There is a simple fact--the property values of a neighborhood can’t go down if your home is right next to a Frank Gehry-designed apartment building.
The PATH Mall, designed by Jeffrey Kalban (an architect who also designed a Getty Center building), won a National American Institute of Architects award last year because we practice the belief that great design helps solve homelessness.
I actually studied architecture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, a school on the coast of central California that is well-known for putting out good architects. I’ve always felt that good design of affordable housing can contribute to ending homelessness. I remember studying how affordable housing was designed around the world—particularly in large urban slum areas.
How does architecture help? Probably the biggest barrier to building affordable housing is finding neighborhoods that will accept these new developments. The Not-In-My-Backyard (NIMBY) sentiment is strong. Having top-notch architects design buildings that are better designed than even the housing around them helps confront NIMBY attitudes.
There is a simple fact--the property values of a neighborhood can’t go down if your home is right next to a Frank Gehry-designed apartment building.
The PATH Mall, designed by Jeffrey Kalban (an architect who also designed a Getty Center building), won a National American Institute of Architects award last year because we practice the belief that great design helps solve homelessness.
posted by LA's Homeless Blog at
9:26 AM
2 Comments:
The homeless system is doing everything in it's power to try to stop the housing first movement. When homeless automatically get better with homes what are all the sevices people to do? It was always about housing; that was the only problem!
If the homeless don't have a jobs to pay their rent, then they will be kicked out of the housing. If they have untreated mental health issues, they will not be able to successfully hold a job. That's why services are important--it will take services PLUS housing for some people to be successful off of the streets.
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