Developed for Habitat for Humanity, we were commissioned to design prototypes exploring new models for attainable, sustainable, and community-oriented housing within established neighbourhoods outside of the urban center. The prototypes apply principles of gentle density by introducing multiple homes onto infill sites in ways that reinforce the scale and rhythm of the surrounding residential neighbourhood.
Offering an alternative to both the detached house and the conventional condominium building, the Twelve-Plex prototype proposes compact low-rise housing that balances density with livability, privacy, and connection to the outdoors. Community is central to the design approach. The development arranges two three-storey buildings along a central pedestrian walkway lined with resident porches, garden patios, and landscape spaces, creating a shared public realm that encourages neighbourly interaction and community life.
The homes are designed to support a broad range of households, including families, seniors, and work-from-home residents. A mix of one, two, and expandable three-bedroom units accommodates changing household needs over time, supporting long-term adaptability and social resilience. Each home features a direct exterior entrance, private outdoor space, flexible interiors, large windows, and multiple orientations for natural light and cross-ventilation. Durable materials, high-performance building envelopes, and all-electric systems contribute to long-term sustainability, resilience, and low-impact living.
Designed as a replicable housing model, the Twelve-Plex demonstrates how gentle density can increase housing supply while creating connected residential communities rooted in everyday livability.
