Oxford Green
2021 / Philadelphia, PA
HIGHER DENSITY HABITAT
This 20-unit development is the largest, greenest project built to-date by the Philadelphia chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Sited in the Sharswood neighborhood on a former Philadelphia Housing Authority superblock, its attached single-family rowhouses created homeownership opportunities for low-income families through Habitat’s unique community building model. The higher-than-typical density of the rowhouse typology provides enhanced sustainability, efficiency and livability for residents, serving as a prototype for the organization’s future growth.
RESILIENT + EFFICIENT
With green roofs fully managing stormwater onsite and an optimized system for framing and windowing, the project reinforces Habitat Philly’s mission while maintaining a sensitive approach to the organization’s unique procurement structure, making best use of donated materials and a volunteer labor force.
MODEL HOMES
Previous single-family Habitat prototypes were analyzed from the perspective of maximizing efficiency, flexibility and ease of construction, with input along the way provided by community stakeholders. A series of precise goals were established for layout and structural adjustments aligning construction costs with resident needs, and forming a model for future higher density home construction.
COMMUNITY CONTEXT
A sensitive response to the architectural style and materiality of the surrounding context incorporated color palettes, trim details and streetscape elements appropriate to the neighborhood and achievable by Habitat’s team. As new streets continue to reactivate after decades of closure, relinking the superblock’s urban fabric, this early phase redevelopment pilots a potential for affordable restoration of the neighborhood’s traditional rowhouse density.
