Habitat for Humanity
Greenfield, MA
Habitat for Humanity
Austin Design Cooperative worked with Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity to design a home for a low-income family or individual that could accommodate frequent visits by someone in a wheelchair. It was to include two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a kitchen, with accessibility always top of mind.
A particular quirk of this project was that we did not know who the future residents would be until the floor plan had already been fairly fleshed out. Among the initial considerations were the layout of the bedrooms in relation to the bathroom and kitchen and how easily everything could be accessed by someone with a disability. Once Habitat selected the future homeowners, design changes were made to better tailor the home to the specific needs and requests of the family. After the floor plan was finalized, we were able to move forward on framing details and elevations for the drawings. With these steps finished, Habitat was able to secure their building permit and began the work of turning the project into a reality. Doing the right thing in our community is as much a part of our mission as anything else in fulfilling our motto: architecture for enjoying life.
Many hands contributed to this project: Austin Design Cooperative donated its architectural services; PV Squared donated solar panels to make the zero-net-energy goal possible for the house; and Franklin County Technical High School contributed help from several trades. Funding and sponsors of the project included Austin Design Cooperative, Franklin County Technical School, PV Squared, Mathews Brothers, Cowls Building Supply, Franklin First Credit Union, and Greenfield Cooperative Bank.