Skylark is a partnership with Housing Channel, a non-profit that assists first-time home buyers, to design a three-bedroom, two bath home, in Arlington, Texas. The home is intended to be sold to a low to mid-income family at 20% below market value, setting the family up for successful home ownership. The studio was joined by a series of eighteen partners in the industry who donated time and materials. 

Our research began with international housing prototypes on multiple scales while simultaneously working through issues related to the restrictive nature of the city’s development code. The juxtaposition of discussing innovative forms of housing while balancing pragmatic realities of construction lead to the development of creative solutions that included a consciousness about energy saving techniques, our waste, where the materials are sourced from, and rainwater collection. The studio chose to use rainwater collection for irrigation and to keep the surrounding soil moisture content up to combat the expansive soil conditions that has lead to structural issues in walls, and foundations, throughout the area.