1489 LONGFELLOW ST

A Manipulation Of Residential Code

SPRING 2020 SITUATE INSTRUCTOR: MARC MAXEY

In the Boston-Edison Historic District of Detroit there lies a lot measuring 22.5’ by 133.5’. Formerly twice as wide, the lot was divided and sold after the house that resided there burned down. A study of the Detroit Municipal code revealed that due to zoning setbacks, new construction on this lot was limited to a 9.5’ by 33.5’ footprint.

massing explorations physical model programmatic diagram planar explorations sw / side elevation se / back elevation

In addition to studying the constraints of residential construction, methods of stealing space were also studied. By examining various elements of a house [balconies, bay windows, porches, dormers, etc.], their definitions allowed potential to be taken advantage of while remaining within the restrictions of legality.

Following initial massing explorations, I explored my project in plan. Utilizing a split-level design was a strategy that maximized space while minimizing program overlap, allowing for an immersion of specific activity when one enters a room.

Rather than dissecting the floorplan horizontally to create a split-level, I dissected it vertically, emphasizing the narrowness of the house as well as the issue of habitable space. This issue was addressed by borrowing space with a perimeter of bay windows that, in addition to letting ample natural light in, also create transparency between the interior and exterior. Programmatically, this transparency is embraced as the most public programs are located on the ground levels of the house and become less visible and more intimate as one ascends to generate a vertical spectrum of privacy.