Nurturing a Community is a supportive housing for single women and their children, as well as immigrant families. The home circles around the feeling of comfort and safety. Wanting to be almost self-sufficient, the building has a restaurant and a daycare as its main public program. The restaurant serves not only as an employment opportunity for the occupants, but also serves as a food bank because any leftover food is distributed to each family. The daycare serves as a place where the occupants can drop their children on their way to work or if they just need a break during the day.

The massing of the building was mainly influenced by the need for the occupants to have access to a courtyard where children can play and adults interact. Being surrounded by busy streets, the courtyard had to be enclosed for the safety of the children, thus wrapping around its site.

The levels are separated by demographics with the first three floors being dedicated to single women and their children. The units on these consecutive levels can house up to four people. However, each can be expanded through the connection to another unit or additional bunk beds. A communal kitchen is also added to these three levels.

The immigrant family units are relatively more spacious and can house up to 6 people each. Similarly to the Women and children’s units, they can be expanded through bunk beds.

Nurturing a Community