The Alley House Goals

The Alley House is created in partnership with ECDC as well as architects, landscape architects, interior designers, engineers, and industry sponsors as a truly collaborative, community effort. The proposal is designed as an equitable, affordable, and energy efficient two-family home that encourages community connections and educational opportunities by making it sociable, welcoming, and creatively engaging. Thoughtfully designed features include a reading nook in the stair tower that also provides passive cooling through stack ventilation, shared and private spaces at the window seats on the southern alley, and the framed views looking out from the home into the landscape. The building creates a unique but relatable presence on Temple Street through the use of pocket porches, buddy benches, brick paving, native vegetation, and productive gardens to activate the green alley. Simultaneously achieving an appealing, contextual aesthetic while providing optimal functionality and adaptability, Alley House enables families to easily age in place. The rent to own and community land trust gives residents the opportunity to own their own home, addressing growing concerns about affordability and gentrification in Englewood. Through careful site selection and appropriate alley activation, environmentally responsible building design and sustainable strategies, and interior and exterior household amenities, the Alley House promotes community connections, creates personal and social interactions and experiences in the neighborhood, and gives a strong sense of place to the community.

Compliments the Family Lifecycle 

Being able to live in their home for as long as they are able, as they age. The home’s spaces might adapt as the family ages, maintaining a high quality of life, living in the home safely and comfortably.   

Sense of Place 

Promoting community connections through design strategies that create personal experiences, social interactions in neighborhood, and identities for the residents that can bring pride in their home and give a sense of place in the community. 

Educational Opportunities 

Creating opportunities for residents and community members to learn about the energy efficient tools their home uses and being aware of energy consumption and understanding the adaptable interior spaces of their home.

Resilient Building Design 

Creating a two-family net-zero energy home using passive principles, on-site renewable energy, local and low-carbon intensive materials, and a high-performance envelope.

Equity 

Valuing that the two-family home does not feel like a duplex, but two connected homes. Understanding that the homes were created to be made equal and affordable. 

**Any additional funds raised will be used for future fund expenses**