Establishing Roots in Jefferson

Jefferson, TX is home to 1,875 residents and has experienced a decline in population over recent years. In an engagement report, residents communicated the need to better connect the different age groups and economic classes. During our research, we also found that 25.8% of people under 18 years of age live in single parent households. All together, these areas of growth resulted in the project name “Establishing Roots in Jefferson.” In this design, we explore a community building and housing development that could provide safe and affordable options for residents of Jefferson.

Our proposal became driven by three factors: resources (blue), connections (yellow), and housing (red). We set out to provide resources through a library, create a supportive and inclusive outdoor space, and form an affordable housing community for single parent homes. This site would become a place for people to establish roots and grow in Jefferson.

With this design geared towards children and their single parents, it seemed fitting to use a simple scheme of primary colors: resources in blue, connections in yellow, and housing in red. This represents the foundation of a community in three main sectors with the goal to unite all acitivites in one site.

A main axis runs through the site in the form of a walkable path starting at the library plaza and moving through the outdoor program to reach the housing. The axis completes at the housing hub, which will support the needs of residents. Public activities take place at the front, the park acts as a buffer, and the living community at the lower section is the most private area of the site.

We know that Jefferson is experiencing population decline, and this led us to investigate the existing conditions. Much of the housing available is unsuitable due to lack of code compliance and/or age of the building. For this reason, we have created a housing community to account for Jefferson’s desire to kick start new development. Additionally, the community report reflects a need to unite the public by providing support to the younger generation, which our project accomplishes through a resource center that will serve the overall neighborhood of Froggtown and support single-parent families in establishing themselves in Jefferson.

Housing Development

Branching off connections, the axis leads into the housing community portion of our design. Thsee building typologies allow for both a connection between residents and a level of individual privacy. Catering to single parent households entails a responsibility to offer spaces that are affordable, stable, and supportive.

The housing connects to the main driveway via parking areas that may become plazas when vacant. Short perimeter walls insulate user activities in the more private areas and ensure a sense of security for residents. Exterior courtyards create natural groupings between units. Overall, the stacked form differentiates housing from the public program and creates upward movement, representing the growth of young families in Jefferson.

Exploring the Apartments

In this exploded axonometric, we get a better look at one collection of apartments. This grouping features: a lower-level unit made to best accommodate ADA, units designed for families of three, and upper-level units that would be ideal for increased privacy.

As mentioned, the connection through shared space is made to compliment the more individual and private areas for residents. In this section, we can see interior family oriented spaces and outdoor group areas. The outdoor patios and seating provide a sense of expanded living space while offering a place for everyone to gather.

Establishing Roots in Jefferson.pdf

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse