Multifamily Architecture in Context: Structure and Strategy by Design

February 2022
Sponsored by TAMLYN

Continuing Education

Use the following learning objectives to focus your study while reading this month’s Continuing Education article.

Learning Objectives - After reading this article, you will be able to:

  1. List several examples of how outdoor space can be an integral part of affordable housing for urban apartment dwellers.
  2. Describe at least two design strategies for repurposing older structures into new multifamily designs.
  3. Cite examples of community and environmental factors influencing multifamily housing design choices.
  4. Discuss the materials and techniques used in each multifamily housing project and how these supported structural and aesthetic goals.

This course is part of the The Multifamily Housing Academy

Below are a set of links to building type studies from Architectural Record, which are in-depth analyses of particular kinds of buildings, with photos, drawings, specifications, detailed descriptions, and design solutions. Click on each link below, read the article then complete the quiz to earn your credit and certificate of completion.

The multifamily housing projects featured in this course illustrate the complex blend of innovative design and strategic building practices in play across a diverse range of properties and communities—from high-end condos to public apartment buildings—all serving to address the lack of adequate housing affecting most cities today. These projects, located in major U.S. hubs and in Europe, embody the unique challenges and opportunities inherent in this key building type. Highlighted strategies include the use of open and public space and the repurposing of older structures to create a modern aesthetic.

Florence Mills Apartments by KFA
The legacy of Black performer Florence Mills lives on in KFA’s affordable-housing complex in L.A.
Sarah Amelar

Battersea Power Station by WilkinsonEyre
WilkinsonEyre’s reimagining of London’s Battersea Power Station debuts with its first residential units.
Tim Abrahams

Social Housing by Peris+Toral
Peris+Toral’s timber social housing in Catalonia brings the outside in.
Anatxu Zabalbeascoa

Edifício Náutico by Subvert Studio
Subvert Studio’s apartment building in Cascais, Portugal, takes its cues from the ocean and the town’s maritime heritage.
Jennifer Krichels

Cast Iron House by Shigeru Ban Architects
Keeping its ornate facade intact, Shigeru Ban transforms a 19th-century Manhattan commercial building into luxury residences.
Pilar Viladas

RAMSA’s New Affordable and Supportive Housing Fulfills Need in East Brooklyn
Edwin's Place adds 125 affordable and supportive housing units, community outreach programs, and social services to the Brownsville neighborhood.
Kara Mavros

Cast Iron House

Photo © Michael Moran

The restored facade of Cast Iron House.