PARA HOUSE
The Para House is a prototype for small-scale
co-living that balances the individual, the interpersonal, and the spatial. It
is a model that can be adapted in scale based on the number of inhabitants and
can be adapted in form to harness site-specific natural resources.
Recognizing the human need for both community and privacy, the building intertwines a range of personal and shared spaces that are aligned and misaligned in plan and section. The central garth—the nucleus of the house—is cloistered by the Heart Wall, a double-layer wall whose cavities contain circulation. Constructed of hemp-lime, the Heart Wall regulates the interior environment by providing hygrothermal balance and acoustic absorption and by naturally filtering the air.
Recognizing the human need for both community and privacy, the building intertwines a range of personal and shared spaces that are aligned and misaligned in plan and section. The central garth—the nucleus of the house—is cloistered by the Heart Wall, a double-layer wall whose cavities contain circulation. Constructed of hemp-lime, the Heart Wall regulates the interior environment by providing hygrothermal balance and acoustic absorption and by naturally filtering the air.