Sustainable micro-community design:

Working with a local developer, we designed a community of fifteen homes with three unique single-family house designs for a site between two neighborhood streets. We provide a layout to achieve fifteen units on the site, where other developers had only planned for nine. The design includes seven 3-bedroom units, eight 1-bedroom units, and a community space.

Each unit faces a private courtyard and deck with operable gates to take advantage of social engagement with other residents. A large turf area and community garden is placed at the center of the site, adjacent to the family units, but accessible to all.

The entire site achieves net-zero energy usage through solar panels on covered parking. No power bills for residents. Grey water is used to water the garden and turf. All buildings are designed to require little maintenance and with southwestern lifestyles in mind.