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Splitting the Difference: A Multifamily House Proposal

Competition Entry — 2025

Lola Sounigo, Z Waite, Marta Elliott, Elena Bouton

New models of affordable homeownership for Los Angeles

We believe home ownership should be possible at the median income. For a family in Los Angeles, that's $98,000 a year. Instead of pricing homes from construction costs and profit, we start with what that household can afford and design backwards. This reverse pro forma shapes site planning, programming, and massing, resulting in starter homes priced around $500K, achievable without subsidy.

Ownership Model. Two on-site rental units — a JADU studio and ADU one-bedroom — generate $4,200/month. That income is shared among four owner-households, reducing monthly costs by over $1,000 each and helping to cover hidden expenses like maintenance and fire insurance. This model extends the benefits of ADU rental income to first-time buyers previously excluded from ownership. Homes are structured as a limited equity condominium, offering a legible, mortgage-eligible path to ownership. Resale caps preserve affordability across generations and decouple ownership from speculation.

Design & Adaptability. Units are designed to evolve with residents. A 3-bedroom can expand into a 4-bedroom by borrowing space from the adjacent 2-bedroom through mutual agreement, supporting both growing and downsizing households without costly renovation. This flexibility fosters long-term residency, community ties, and neighborhood stability.

Offset levels within each unit and between shared courtyards provide layered privacy. Split levels create diverse spatial experiences in a compact footprint, offering an alternative to fully open or hyper-divided layouts. Extended transitions at the entry of each unit create a sense of separation from the communal spaces without relying solely on enclosure.

Primary structures align on an 8' grid, reducing labor and maximizing standard materials. The reimagined courtyard typology disperses three smaller courtyards between units, creating space for both shared neighborhood and private outdoor zones.

Big Picture. By centering shared income and affordability from the outset, this project offers a sustainable model for homeownership — one that remains accessible across generations.

LocationLos Angeles, CA

StatusCompetition Entry

Year2025

TypeBuilding / Research

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