Lake Worth Modular Housing
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Lake Worth Beach is a small coastal town in Palm Beach County, Florida, located about 60 miles north of Miami. The project is sited within a historic district of small-scale homes and apartment buildings.
Typology references The historic district comprises two primary housing types: the tiny cottage and the catwalk apartment building. The cottage hews back to the founding of the town in 1913 when it was primarily comprised of small vacation homes fo
Fortuitously, contemporary modular homes are of similar size and proportion to historic cottages. One stream of the investigation was the design of an effective unit type for the contemporary lifestyle. The architect settled on a 12’x33’x4” modul
By stacking the units in a low-rise configuration, upper and lower units assume unique qualities.
The architect collaborated with a boat designer in internal fittings and furnishings to optimize functionality and comfort
Maximum efficiency is achieved by the factory producing the housing modules. The width and height are optimized for road travel. On-site assembly is quick, minimizing impact to the surrounding neighborhood.
Two strategies were developed. Each builds on the dual traditions of the town: small cottages and catwalk apartment houses. It builds upon the idea that these complimentary urban patterns can be merged.
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Exterior facades will combine metal siding (a contemporary take on vertical board and batten siding) and colorful paneling.
Exterior facades will combine metal siding (a contemporary take on vertical board and batten siding) and colorful paneling.
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Lake Worth Beach Modular Housing

Lake Worth Beach, Florida | ongoing

Modular infill housing in an historic neighborhood: The historic district comprises two primary housing types: the tiny cottage and the catwalk apartment building. The cottage hews back to the founding of the town in 1913, when it was primarily comprised of small vacation homes for farmers. The catwalk type is indicative of postwar boom and need for affordable housing. Fortuitously, contemporary modular homes are of similar size and proportion to historic cottages.

One stream of investigation was the design of an effective unit type for a contemporary lifestyle. S+A settled on a 12’x33’x4’ module. By stacking the units in a low-rise configuration, upper and lower units assume unique qualities. Maximum efficiency is achieved by factory-producing the housing modules. The width and height are maximized for road travel. On-site assembly is quick, minimizing impact to the surrounding neighborhood.

The design strategy that S+A developed builds upon the idea that the complimentary urban patterns of cottage and catwalk can be merged. Exterior facades combine metal siding (a contemporary take on vertical board and batten siding) and colorful paneling.

As the Design Architect, S+A designed the project and took it through approval with the City of Lake Worth Beach’s Historic Resources Preservation Board. The project is being further developed by Base4 Architects as Architect-of-Record.

© 2022 Shulman + Associates