Los Angeles Trade-Technical College/Architecture 2

The project offers a low-cost, Do-It-Yourself (DIY) solution to meeting the demand for small-scale housing units. Its secret: give local residents the tools they need to design their own housing themselves. The project is an architectural housing design kit that supports lay, DIY involvement in the design of small-scale units. The kit offers customizable features, “digital twin” models to better visualize the spaces, and support in generating the range of documents needed for permitting and approvals. The ADUs, tiny houses, and modular dwellings that the kit supports incorporate Net Zero, clean energy, sustainable materials, and nature-based principles. All houses are designed with small-scale gardens of various kinds. The kits are designed to be included in the Eco-Lab pop-up, described in another LATTC project from this season. The next phase of the project includes: 1) seeking grant funding to build a working prototype of each housing type supported by the kit, 2) finalizing the production of full-scale digital twin models for each type, and 3) developing the supporting documents needed to advance all units through permitting and approval processes. In this, the team collaborates with fabricators, housing coalitions, and workforce partners to refine designs, test performance, and prepare scalable deployment strategies across Los Angeles.

Faculty Lead:
Marcela Oliva

Students:
Maria Almazana, Ralph Arellano, Layla More, Luis Orellana, Juan Jaime, Eduardo Cortez, Lumen Legale, Marlene Valdez, Ruben Alvarado, Jack  R   ,Marina Henderson, Kelly Sanchez, Sean Godoy, Sage Garcia, Johel Gonzales, Gilbert Linares, Joshue Sanchez., Dru Farnham

Collaborating Partners:
USGBC CA, TRUST LA, SLATE Z, Mayor Karen Bass Innovation Team

Aligned LA County Sustainability Plan Goals:
Goal 1: Resilient and healthy community environments where residents thrive in place. Goal 2: Buildings and infrastructure that support human health and resilience. Goal 3: Equitable and sustainable land use and development without displacement. Goal 4: A prosperous LA County that provides opportunities for all residents and businesses and supports the transition to a green economy.

Premiere Segment

Pitch deck