Sun Power / Sun Shade
A coalition of California housing advocates invited architects to envision how developers could respond to the so-called “Builder’s Remedy.” In their words:
Many California cities have not met State-mandated requirements to allow more housing to be built, so the State has stepped in to allow for Builders Remedy solutions. This means typical zoning regulations like density, height and FAR limits are sent on holiday! While local zoning rules are on vacation, owners and infill developers can submit housing solutions constrained only by their imagination, building codes, and CEQA strategy.
We are celebrating these Zoning Holidays by partnering with architects who have designed 5-unit buildings for single-family sized lots, using modern Passive House design standards and the CEQA Class 3 exemption, to push California towards a more affordable, sustainable housing future.
In response, we proposed a south-facing five-unit single-stair development bristling with solar panel sun shading and maximizing open space given the current height limits on single-stair housing design in California
Many of California’s older suburbs host a healthy mix of housing types. Historically, apartment buildings were gradually introduced into single family neighborhoods in the 50s and 60s. The downzoning of the 70s and 80s prevented that from happening to neighborhoods that were built later.
This project imagines a five-unit building in such a neighborhood – old enough to warrant new, infill construction, but too young to have apartment buildings already there. This neighborhood would also be located close to transit and business areas to avoid having to provide costly parking.
This missing-middle project provides a variety of larger unit type to house families. The street-facing structure has two three-bedroom units and two-two bedroom units on three floors with a generous shared roof terrace. Since the height is limited to three stories, the units can be served by one stair per current codes. The rear structure contains another three-bedroom unit with a large roof terrace.
The buildings respect minimum 4’ setbacks with small, privacy-preserving windows on the side facades. The structures enclose a shared landscaped courtyard with access to bike parking and shared laundry facilities.
These all-electric units would be built to meet Passive House standards with a tight, well insulated envelope using fiberglass window frames and high-performance glazing.
Other measures include:
-Heat recovery ventilation
-All-electric appliances and heat pump HVAC
-Heat pump water heating
-Thermally broken construction at extended walls, and solar panel/shade support system
Explore all the projects here: https://zoningholiday.com/
