SECCA's Home House Project

This past weekend I picked up a book on The Home House Project, which chronicles the top entries to the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Arts' (SECCA) innovative competition that challenges artists and architects to find new and unique solutions to low and moderate income family housing.

The goals for the project are really admirable: "1) to provide inspired design in the affordable housing market for those who historically have been omitted from enjoying its benefits; 2) to establish a new national housing model in terms of design, energy efficiency, environmental consciousness, and cost effectiveness that can change the stigma attached to affordable housing throughout the United States; 3) to showcase the most recent advances in sustainable design and 4) to foster new partnerships with people, organizations and communities across the United States involved in the creative applications of affordable design."

I have to say, the SECCA really must be pleased with the results. The entrants totally succeeded in creating extremely forward-looking, effective, unique, and affordable houses. And the book is really wonderful. Not only is the text full of interesting, thought-provoking ideas, the pages are packed with color illustrations of some really different and outstanding houses - some ingenious in their practicality, others wild and extreme. Take a look here for .pdf files of all the top 25 entrants. Great competition that is definitely bringing new dimensions to affordable housing, and great book to chronicle the work.

Image Credit - Home House Project page on SECCA site