Make It Home: Where Privacy & Community Meet

What if a home could do more than just house someone? What if it could also support mental health, reduce isolation, build community, and adapt to the environment around it? This project was my response to that challenge.

I designed a modular L-shaped home rooted in Usonian principles—simple, efficient, and human-centered. It’s single-story to ensure accessibility, shaped to provide both privacy and shared space, and built to work anywhere. The open floorplan, large windows, and carport design reduce energy costs and construction expenses, while also promoting natural light and airflow.

The real strength of the design is its flexibility. These units can be mirrored or stacked to create diverse layouts that fit on irregular or corner lots—rural, suburban, or urban. It's a blueprint that could be built by local contractors or volunteers, keeping construction regional and affordable.

This is more than a house—it's a model for community. A small footprint with big potential.

Below are the supplies I used by category:

Computer Aided Drawing:

Revit

Twin Motion

Physical Model:

Posterboard

Chipboard

Popsicle Sticks

Found Foliage (Moss)

I started this project by thinking about what supportive housing really needs to do—not just give someone a roof, but actually support their life. That means it has to be affordable, flexible, and feel like a real home. I looked into Usonian homes, which were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright to be simple, low-cost, and really connected to the outdoors. They didn’t have garages, just carports. They used open floorplans, natural light, and built-in furniture to make small spaces feel functional and calm. That stuck with me.

I also researched how modern affordable housing is being built—what materials are cheapest, how to reduce energy use, and how designs can fight isolation. I learned that modular layouts and mirrored or stacked units are great for awkward lots in cities or towns, and that using passive energy design (like big windows and cross ventilation) can cut down on heating and cooling costs.

All of this shaped my idea: an L-shaped home that balances privacy and shared space, uses natural light and airflow, and can be adapted for different communities. It’s inspired by the past but built for right now.

After gathering my research, I started bringing the design to life through computer drawings. I knew I wanted it to be a single-story home, both for accessibility and affordability. The L-shaped layout came early—it naturally creates a private outdoor terrace while separating the more public spaces (like the kitchen and living area) from the private ones (like the bedrooms).

In my drawings, I focused on:

1. An open floor plan that allows air and light to flow easily
2. Larger windows to take advantage of passive solar energy and reduce the need for artificial light and A/C
3. A carport instead of a full garage, which lowers construction costs without sacrificing function
4. A layout that can be mirrored or stacked depending on the needs of the site and the community

Even though it’s a small home, I wanted it to feel open, intentional, and calm. The drawings helped me figure out the best flow between rooms and how to make each part of the house work harder without adding unnecessary square footage.

This step was all about turning inspiration into something real—making sure every design choice served a purpose, whether that was cutting costs, saving energy, or making the space feel more livable.

One of the most important parts of this design is the center terrace formed by the L-shape. I didn’t want this to just be a leftover space—I wanted it to be something that makes the home feel more livable and intentional.

The terrace acts as a kind of joint between the two wings of the house. From the inside, it brings in natural light and a view of the outdoors. From the outside, it creates a semi-private area where someone could read, garden, eat with friends, or just sit quietly. It’s a spot that encourages connection, but doesn’t force it.

If multiple homes like this are placed together in a community layout, these center spaces could even line up to create shared courtyards or green spaces—supporting mental health and a sense of belonging without losing privacy. That was important to me.

This part of the design isn’t complicated, but it changes how the home feels. It’s not just about shelter—it’s about giving people a space to breathe, connect, or be alone, depending on what they need.

Once the layout was solid, I created a rendering of the house to see how everything would come together. It helped me imagine not just the structure, but the feeling of the space—how it sits on a lot, how the light moves through it, and how someone might actually live there.

The render shows the home’s low profile and clean lines, inspired by Usonian architecture. The L-shape is clear, and the central terrace really becomes the heart of the home. You can see how the windows bring the outside in, and how the carport makes the front feel open and accessible instead of bulky.

This step helped me make sure the design still felt welcoming, calm, and useful once it was fully built out—not just in floor plans, but in real life. It’s easy to sketch an idea, but seeing it in 3D made it feel like a space someone could truly call home.

After doing all the digital work, I wanted to actually build the house in 3D—not just on a screen. Making a physical model helped me better understand how the design really functions, especially how the spaces relate to each other in real life.

I used basic materials to keep it simple and focused on the layout. You can clearly see the L-shape, the central terrace, and how the house opens up in some areas and stays closed off in others. It also helped me make sure the house would still feel balanced and functional from different angles.

What I liked most about this part was seeing how the design holds up even when scaled down. The model shows how this home could work on different types of lots and how multiple units could connect in a community without losing their individual privacy.

It’s one thing to imagine the space—it’s another to build it, even in miniature. Doing this step made the project feel real.

This project made me think differently about what a home can be. It’s not just about walls and a roof—it’s about creating a space that supports someone’s life, their routine, and their sense of safety and belonging. Through research, design, and building both digital and physical models, I tried to balance affordability with dignity, flexibility with simplicity.

I hope this design shows that good housing doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive to be thoughtful. A small home, built with care, can have a big impact.

Thank you for taking the time to read my ideas!