The purpose of this studio project was to provide the client with alternative site plans for a proposed housing development on their 149 acre site in North Amherst, Massachusetts. These plans ranged from high density cluster developments to more conventional low-density arrangements.
Our sub-group, which consisted of two landscape architecture students and two architecture students, was tasked with providing the client with a high density cluster site plan. The goal was to design homes, office, community, and open spaces for people of diverse ages and socio-economic backgrounds that would be sustainable and affordable to both buy and maintain.
To this end, we established four objectives:
- To take full advantage of passive solar heat and vegetation to reduce heating and cooling costs.
- To provide choice and flexibility in the configuration of each home.
- To capitalize on the topography of the site to create view opportunities.
- To use landform to help in shaping the sense of community within the site.