Small Lots, Big Impacts, a first-of-its-kind initiative to turn vacant small lots into new starter homes, has announced the winners of its competition, which drew submissions from more than 350 designers and architects from around the world.
They created new housing models at a variety of scales and sites, forming a repository of possible solutions to meet Los Angeles’ housing challenges, which were exacerbated by the loss of homes in the January fires. Winners will advance to a second phase this summer, collaborating with development teams to bring their designs to life as prototypes. The Small Lots, Big Impacts initiative will build model homes on vacant, residential, city-owned parcels so Angelenos can see, visit and live in housing tailored to the city.
“The city’s architectural community heard and responded to the call, as they came together to produce affordable, high-quality, and sustainable design ideas for new first-time homes in L.A.,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “Together, by harnessing the creativity and expertise of the private sector, we are creating new types of housing on city-owned land in L.A. that will benefit generations to come.”
These pilot projects on public land are intended to spur development on tens of thousands of privately owned lots with similar characteristics. Small Lots, Big Impacts is a partnership between the city of Los Angeles, UCLA’s cityLAB and LA4LA.
“UCLA exists to serve the public, and that means helping solve the most pressing problems facing our communities. By reimagining how we use space in our city, UCLA scholars and our partners are advancing bold solutions to one of the region’s most entrenched challenges: affordable housing for all,” said UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk.
To see the winning submissions, learn more about the initiative, and read the full release, visit UCLA’s cityLAB website.
