Paradise Pond Residences | Transitional Housing
Paradise Pond Residences | Transitional Housing
Northampton, MA
Designed as twelve units of transitional housing in the city of Northampton, the Paradise Pond Apartments are located on a 3.3 acre site along the banks of the Mill River. Our challenge was to design economic, sustainable homes that would provide access to social services, while promoting individual self-respect and community pride. This solution was to create large open shared spaces, connections to the local community, and units that foster a sense of individual homes. Adjacent to Smith College, the three clusters of units were designed to respect their surroundings while maintaining strict economic and environmental standards.
Each cluster contains four units, which range from two to four bedrooms apiece. Clusters were designed to maximize efficiency in a number of important areas. Units within each cluster share a common boiler for heating, and firewalls separating each unit from the next to maximize insulating properties between them, while reducing construction costs.
Team
Architect: LDa Architecture & Interiors, Joint Venture with Peter Frothingham, RA
Builder: Wright Builders, Inc.
Photographer: Woodruff Brown Photography
Publications
Architecture Boston Magazine, January/February 2008 "Clancy Award"
Awards
2007 Pioneer Valley Smart Growth Awards, Certificate of Merit - Affordable Housing Category
2007 BSA, John M. Clancy Award for socially responsible Housing - Honor Award
2008 BSA/AIA New York, Housing Design - Jury Award for Design Excellence
2011 AIA New England, Honor Awards - Honor Award for Excellence in Architecture
