Isometric diagram showing the carving out of space that opens up to the street.
The residential duplex is a very flexible form. It can be easily transformed into a mixed-use building by opening up the building front to the street. Enclosing the porch provides space for seating or merchandise display. The rear rooms on the ground level offer space for a commercial kitchen, workshop, or storage. In this particular case of the residential duplex on 40th Street, the existing built-in cabinet in the dining room can be easily transformed into a service counter. Retaining the upper floor for domestic use allows the business owner to live upstairs and oversee business activities. This proposal requires a variance or change in the City's zoning and planning codes to allow for mixed use occupancy.
This project is not proposing to change every building on every street. Instead, by strategically inserting alternate uses and programs in buildings along any given street, the community can actively encourage new forms of traffic and activities. This strategy will help community members to determine how to enhance walkability, safety, and revitalization of this neighborhood. It encourages grassroots and entrepreneurial proposals from the community residents, wresting decision making control away from planners and government bureaucrats. This live-work design provides employment opportunities and keeps money circulating in the local economy, as the owner lives within the community.
Section highlighting removed architectural elements in blue and additions in red. Note how the large front room that is created is spatially divided by overhead elements.
First floor plan highlighting removed architectural elements in blue and additions in red. A clear divide between public store space and private production space is evident at the rear third of the building.