Grow Together Microhome by Yanci Chen |
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| DESIGN DETAILS | |||||
| DESIGN NAME: Grow Together PRIMARY FUNCTION: Microhome INSPIRATION: Grow Together is inspired by the urgent social challenge of homelessness in Seattle and the growing willingness of residents to share their backyards for micro/off-grid shelters. The project reimagines communal reintegration through modular, self-sustaining dwellings that offer transitional housing for individuals seeking to reconnect with society. By integrating adaptive architecture and urban farming, it fosters dignity, autonomy, and social inclusion. UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Grow Together is an intergenerational community hub that integrates adaptive architecture, urban farming, and sustainable living. The design fosters cross-generational exchange through modular housing, shared greenhouses, and flexible communal spaces. Utilizing biophilic principles, passive cooling, and circular material strategies, it enhances resilience and well-being. Its unique strength lies in fostering social cohesion while promoting ecological responsibility and self-sufficiency. OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: Grow Together operates as a flexible micro-housing solution that reintegrates individuals experiencing homelessness into the community. Homeowners can install modular units in their backyards, providing temporary, self-sustaining shelters. Residents engage in shared gardening, skill-building, and social programs in communal spaces. The adaptable design ensures privacy while fostering interaction, creating a supportive transition toward permanent housing and social reintegration. PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: March 2024 Seattle FITS BEST INTO CATEGORY: Architecture, Building and Structure Design |
PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: Grow Together utilizes prefabricated modular construction, integrating cross-laminated timber (CLT), recycled steel frames, and bio-based insulation for sustainability and efficiency. The design employs passive solar strategies, rainwater harvesting, and off-grid energy solutions to ensure self-sufficiency. Digital parametric modeling and AI-assisted spatial optimization guided the form and layout, maximizing adaptability, privacy, and seamless integration within existing urban fabric. SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: Grow Together features modular micro-housing units measuring 3,000mm (W) x 6,000mm (D) x 3,200mm (H), designed for easy deployment in residential backyards. Each unit incorporates off-grid solar panels, a rainwater filtration system, and composting toilets for self-sufficiency. The lightweight CLT and recycled steel structure allows for rapid assembly. Shared community hubs range from 20m² to 50m², integrating urban farming zones and flexible gathering spaces for reintegration programs. TAGS: micro-housing, intergenerational living, homelessness solution, modular architecture, urban farming, off-grid shelter, sustainable design, community reintegration, adaptive reuse, social impact RESEARCH ABSTRACT: Grow Together is based on social impact and architectural research addressing homelessness in Seattle. The objective was to explore backyard micro-housing as a transitional solution for reintegration. Using case studies, interviews, and spatial analysis, data was collected from homeowners, social workers, and unhoused individuals. Findings highlight the need for privacy, community engagement, and self-sufficiency. The project fosters scalable, community-driven solutions, influencing urban policy and inclusive design. CHALLENGE: The greatest challenge in Grow Together was balancing privacy and social reintegration while ensuring scalability and feasibility. Socially, resistance to backyard shelters required design solutions that reassured homeowners and preserved neighborhood aesthetics. Legally, zoning restrictions and permitting posed barriers. Technologically, optimizing off-grid utilities in a compact form was complex. Overcoming these required community engagement, modular innovation, and adaptive policy integration. ADDED DATE: 2025-02-26 19:21:36 TEAM MEMBERS (1) : Yanci Chen IMAGE CREDITS: Yanci Chen PATENTS/COPYRIGHTS: Copyrights belong to Yanci Chen |
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| CLIENT/STUDIO/BRAND DETAILS | |
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NAME: YCJ STUDIO PROFILE: YCJ Studio is a multidisciplinary design practice founded by Yanci Chen and Jing Chen, rooted in a shared belief that architecture is both a spatial experience and a cultural dialogue. With a focus on public projects, competitions, and conceptual explorations, the studio bridges the poetic and the practical, crafting thoughtful environments that respond to site, story, and society. Our work spans from architecture and landscape to installations and research driven design. Each project is approached with curiosity, clarity, and care, blending computational precision with material sensitivity to create spaces that resonate deeply with people and place. |
| AWARD DETAILS | |
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Grow Together Microhome by Yanci Chen is Winner in Social Design Category, 2024 - 2025.· Read the interview with designer Yanci Chen for design Grow Together here.· Press Members: Login or Register to request an exclusive interview with Yanci Chen. · Click here to register inorder to view the profile and other works by Yanci Chen. |
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