01 01 SOLOMOR CO-HOUSING

For this infill housing project, I chose to explore communal living, a typology that stems from Danish origins. Additionally, chosen solo parenthood has become increasingly common in Denmark— challenging the stigma attached to single parenthood and redefining the traditional family unit. This new group of single mothers have become known as ‘solomors’.

For solomors, sharing space means maintaining independence and privacy, yet being intertwined with a community when they choose. Thus, a key aspect was visual connectivity— being able to see what others are doing while retaining autonomy. Flexibility and multifunctionality of spaces were also important in the design since the units should accommodate both single moms who had their kids individually (full-time) and single moms with joint custody (part-time). A few other factors to account for are boyfriends/girlfriends, other moms + their children, and other guests who come to visit.

In addition to individual spaces, some communal programs nearer to the street include a public cafe, daycare/playspace, co-working spaces, bike repair + storage, a communal kitchen + dining area, and a rooftop garden. Though communal, the actual spaces themselves increase in privacy and quietness as one goes up the floors.

Focusing on sustainability, the placement of the rooms account for sunlight at different times of the day. To fit in more with the neighboring buildings, the first floor retains a traditional brick facade at the human scale and the windows mime the church next door, while the upper floors of the units shift to modern wood cladding, representing a desire to both embrace the existing site while challenging traditional values.