We’re working on a new prototype residential dwelling. It is a single family dwelling, defined as having one kitchen. Attached to the core kitchen and living area are several sub-living/bedroom suites.
The suites have everything anyone would want in an ideal apartment including a full bath, a large living/sleeping area (open concept), plenty of closets, and a private entrance. The pods, consisting of two floors, provides the upper unit with a private roof top terrace while the ground floor unit has their own yard.
Each sub-unit has a bar sink and small refrigerator.
Each sub-unit is 20×30 thus 600 square feet. As it will be virtually open, it will provide the sense of living in a very large space.
The upper level features higher ceilings.
The rentals could be AirBnB, Bed and Breakfast or regular rental units.
The pod ends have large expansive glass to the suites living area, the sides, pictured here, are covered with horizontal rain guards.
Bathroom walls are ‘open at the top’ to visually connect the entire space, allowing for glass transom windows if desired (for couples or if the dweller expects guests).
Each sub-unit can be accessed from the outside, an area between the common core and the ‘pods.’
Each core would be surrounded with 4 pods, providing a total of 8 sub-units.
The ‘core’ common area has the kitchen, larger than normal to accommodate more people, a gathering dining area (large enough to accommodate all the dwellers in this little community), and a great room for showcasing movies and get-togethers. The core also has laundry, bulk storage areas (accessed from the exterior) and mail retrieval.
The core acts as a mini-community town center.
This concept allows people to find housing that offers them the qualities they seek in a home, charm, privacy, and independence, all at a reasonable price.
In essence, this is an extension of a bed and breakfast, or dorm concept, but geared for single adults, those out of college, or retirees. It offers a means for them to save money on rent, in order to save towards purchasing their own home.
By keeping it legally a one family with bedroom suites, it avoids the financial strain of code and zoning requirements, some which can undermine smaller projects from being realized, thus leaving an at-risk and ‘singles’ out of luck when it comes to their housing needs.
Of course smaller pods could be added, like those the size of a typical hotel room, but in this way it becomes more like a boarding house and less about dwelling and community.