Los Angeles Architects Turn Freeway Park Into A Colorful Transitional Tiny Home Village
May 14, 2021
source: The Architect's Newspaper via Lehrer Architects
Tiny homes are wonderful residential structures on their own. But more and more architects and developers are creating communities of tiny homes for the social good, and that’s even better! Los Angeles-based architecture firm Lehrer Architects recently announced the grand opening of the Alexandria Park Tiny Home Village located in North Hollywood. The colorful tiny home village is not only bright and cheery, but also happens to be expertly designed to accommodate some of Los Angeles’s immense homeless population.
As reported by The Architect’s Newspaper, the Alexandria Park Tiny Home Village is the second tiny home village designed and implemented by Lehrer Architects in conjunction with the Bureau of Engineering. The Alexandria Park Tiny Home Village consists of 103 single and double-occupancy units, along with a range of other communal structures and outdoor spaces. In total, this tiny home community can house up to 200 of Los Angeles’s homeless population.
The site of the project is described as an “edge space,” an otherwise unused section of land near the freeway. Although this space was deemed not usable by other developers looking to build more traditional structures, Lehrer Architects knew this space could be adapted and used for a functional tiny home community.
In addition to the tiny homes, the Alexandria Park Tiny Home Village serves residents three meals per day, and allows them access to communal showers, restrooms, storage areas, dining areas, and support services. Each unit features a fold-down bed, heat, air conditioning, electrical outlets, and locks. And while they aren’t meant to be long-term housing by any means, they are a safe and valuable transition space from the streets to more permanent accommodations.
Even though the Alexandria Park Tiny Home Village wasn’t designed to be a long-term housing solution, there is no maximum time frame a resident can stay. So, as long as residents abide by the Village’s no-alcohol policy and evening curfew, they are welcome to stay until they can find a more long-term solution. “It is thrilling to be here using our medium to give, develop and invent form and processes to transform LA into a fully housed city,” said Michael B. Lehrer, founding partner of Lehrer Architects. “Making a difference is a joy of citizenship.” We commend Lehrer Architects and other firms who are creating similar projects – these developments truly make a massive difference in the lives of those experiencing homelessness, and I hope to see more projects like this one continue to sprout up.