willow park
affordable housing development competition
federal home loan bank boston
with nicholette cameron, hugo carvajal, emma colley, allison hyatt, dianne lê, summer liu, and william ma
Developed in partnership with colleagues from MIT, the GSD, and the Watertown Housing Authority, this project proposal reimagines an existing affordable housing development originally constructed in the 1940s in Watertown Massachusetts. 120 units are planned for the site. The existing substructure and service connections of the existing development are maintained, existing trees are preserved, and a new building is planned for the south parcel. The buildings utilize a single-loaded exterior corridor that faces the inner courtyard and serves as a communal balcony space. Accordingly, each unit enjoys generous access to light and air on both sides. At the ground level, the buildings feature communal spaces that are oriented toward the courtyard. The entire development designed to be fully accessible. Backed by a detailed funding model that leverages multiple sources of public subsidy, the Willow Park development is proposed as a viable affordable housing project that encourages community interaction and providing a beautiful, sensitively scaled, and greatly-needed living environment.