ReHOME: Resilience + Regeneration

INNOVATION FOR SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL GOOD

The reHOME project addresses two pressing social and environmental issues: the lack of affordable housing for underprivileged populations, and the vast amount of waste produced during construction. ReHome envisions planned neighborhoods of recycled homes where homeowners have a sense of community and investment in their future.

The building, renovating and destructing of structures generates millions of tons of waste every year. ReHOME scrutinizes every step of the construction and demolition process to develop scalable methodologies to preserve otherwise wasted materials. Our research into low- and high-tech processes develops techniques for repurposing these resources through adaptive design solutions and innovative construction methods to construct sustainable housing. The process is dynamic, encouraging architects to be nimble, using challenges as a springboard to creative, on-the-ground design solutions.



SCALES OF ECONOMY AND GROWTH

The project’s goal is to save millions of dollars in resources while creating jobs that develop employable skills and constructing low-cost housing. Community participants benefit from new housing while learning skills of construction and management, introducing volunteers to industries wherein they will acquire future employment.



ReHOME is on track to design and build for a third of the cost of current construction prices. As it is scaled, the process intends to develop a new sector of the real estate and construction industry that can be exported to various cities throughout the world, developing properties to accommodate growing neighborhoods of recycled homes.



PROBLEM SOLVING FOR VIBRANT COMMUNITIES

Referencing vernacular building practices, the reHOME initiative provides comfortable shelter for marginalized populations while promoting thriving, vital community life through design. The concept saves material and cost by proposing village clusters with individual private areas served by communal cooking, gathering and working spaces.



ReHOME provides a platform for developing demolition and construction techniques. For example, we developed an extensive data bank to locate, vet and catalog materials for reuse allowing us to track to use 100% recycled and reclaimed materials.



Many working families struggle to find housing they can afford. ReHome furnishes an innovative pathway for creating quality housing and flourishing communities for marginalized populations.