HONORABLE MENTION
URBAN HABITATS COMPETITION
Charlotteville, Virginia
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville, in partnership with the Charlottesville Community Design Center (CCDC) organized an open ideas competition for the transformation of Sunrise Trailer Court into a vibrant, attractive urban community called Sunrise Park.
In communities where Habitat is accustomed to building single-family homes, the shortage of affordable land requires Habitat affiliates to build at a higher density.
The Urban Habitats Competition is searching for innovative models that provide sustainable, affordable multifamily housing.​​
SITE DEVELOPMENT:
-
Porous site design allows pedestrian and bicycle networks to intertwine Sunrise Park with surroundings, serving as linkage system and model for future developments.
-
Weaving nature path through site connects Rivanna Trail with downtown Charlottesville.
-
Central open space forms heart of development.
-
Commercial development along Carlton creates buffer towards industrial area.
-
Building heights follow natural topography, sun-angles, views of surrounding hills and prevailing wind direction.
-
Mixture of parking courts and private carports provide child-friendly environment with maximum land-use efficiency while allowing controlled parking adjacent to homes.
​
​
FLOOR PLANS:
-
Healthy mix of low-income and market rate units as townhouses and fully accessible flats stimulates diverse cultural environment.
-
Habitat homeowner units as individual buildings are easily constructed.
-
Natural topography employs rental units as retaining elements and foundation for habitat units.
-
Café, retail and day-care generate diverse commercial activity.
BIO-CLIMATIC FEATURES:
-
Heat reduction / rainwater retention through permeable parking surfaces
-
Rainwater recovery system provides “gray water” for irrigation and non-drinking purposes.
-
Active/ passive solar energy
-
Photovoltaic panels as sunshades
-
Thermal/ acoustical buffer formed by circulation, service spaces, and parking courts
-
Maximum natural ventilation due to building orientation and through air-flow
​​
MATERIALS / CONSTRUCTION:
-
Prefabrication of timber wall components through building and element standardization
-
Use of environmentally friendly, recyclable, corrugated cement board in rain-screen application for additional insulation
-
Low-impact construction through non-outgassing, recyclable, locally available, low-energy consumption building materials and farmed naturally durable timber
