Why We Need Multifamily Homes That are Good, Clean, and Fair
Everyone has the right to a home that is good, clean, and fair. Our homes have a huge impact on our lives as it is the place we spend the majority of our time, even when not dealing with a pandemic. It’s so important for the spaces we inhabit the most to be well-designed and built with clean materials and fair labor. And it’s important that good, clean, and fair homes are not just expensive single-families but include all housing typologies and price points.
Multifamily housing is a great need right now to address housing shortages and increase density in cities across the country. However, standard construction materials and building codes are woefully inadequate for creating multifamily residences that support the health of their inhabitants as well as supporting fair industry labor. Often the main driver behind multifamily design is profit instead of the positive impact of the home on its residents and community. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Why Good, Clean, and Fair?
These are the principles of a Slow Home and the Slow Space Movement, founded in 2017 by Aamodt/Plumb.
Good
A good home is well-designed, beautiful, and will last for generations. It inspires joy in our daily lives. A good home is also connected to nature, even in the city, to help us slow down, reflect, rejuvenate and heal.
Clean
A clean home is healthy and free from pollutants that hurt people and the planet. It is carbon-neutral, built with non-toxic materials, and uses passive building design strategies to minimize energy use.
Fair
A fair home is accessible to people of all ages, races, abilities, and income levels. It is built with fair labor, free of exploitation on the job site and in the supply chain, and uses materials sourced ethically and sustainably.
Slow Homes on Willow: Good, Clean, and Fair Multifamily Homes
An example of a good, clean, and fair multifamily project is 145 Willow Street in Cambridge, MA, a project we call “Slow Homes on Willow”. Aamodt / Plumb purchased this small lot sited in a great neighborhood, surrounded by multifamily homes, schools, parks, and public transportation. It is just steps from the new King Open School, a public elementary school whose social justice foundation aligns with our own.
The existing building on the site is in disrepair and has not been deemed historically significant. We chose not to pursue one large single-family redevelopment because, although very profitable, it does not support our mission. In addition to being great for families, the increased density is a plus both for local housing and the environment.
The design for 145 Willow is our take on the typical triple-decker multifamily home found throughout the Boston area. The major difference here is the way the balcony is integrated into the floor plan to connect the spaces with the outside. Connection to nature is, in our view, one of the key elements of a good building. In the city, nature comes in the form of light, air, views of the sky, and green space. These balconies, oriented along the long southern façade, bring all of those to the heart of the home.
We spent several months getting to know our neighbors and talking with them about what they would like to see happen on this property. After an extensive community outreach process we modified our plans to include off-street parking based on neighbors’ feedback. This parking garden also doubles as a gathering space for the residents.
Building a multifamily residence that is good, clean, and fair is a challenge. Our aim for Slow Homes on Willow is to provide a “roadmap” of sorts for other Slow Space Movement proponents to follow. Good design, clean materials, and ethical labor practices are design criteria that all buildings should meet.
Learn more about this project and how we are making multifamily homes good, clean, and fair: https://aamodtplumb.com/projects/slow-homes-willow/