SMALL LOTS BIF IMPACTS

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Year: 2025
Size: 10,000 ft2
Project Type: Housing
Client: The City of Los Angeles & cityLAB-UCLA
Image Credit: @ PRAXES

Hybrid Habitat: Living in Connection

Hybrid Habitat is a sustainable, multi-family housing prototype designed for small lots with height constraints. Featuring a hybrid, concrete and heavy timber structure, it offers a replicable model for mid-density housing that integrates architecture with its context. Its linear form maximizes land use, while large front and rear openings in each unit foster a strong connection to the surroundings.

The project includes four primary residences, one Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), and a Junior ADU (JADU). All units except the JADU have three bedrooms. Shared amenities include a multi-purpose community room, front and back yards, and a covered outdoor space adaptable to various uses.

The hybrid structure consists of a concrete ground floor and cross-laminated timber (CLT) duplex units on the upper levels.  This design leverages the strengths of each system: concrete offers a solid foundation, while the lighter timber reduces structural load and prefabrication enables precise assembly and shorter construction time.

The tube-shaped CLT modules are ideal for narrow lots and designed to support natural light and cross-ventilation. Inside, double-height living spaces, open staircases, and pitched ceilings create a sense of openness within the limited height, while exposed wood surfaces add warmth and a residential character. Mechanical systems or storage could be integrated into attic spaces above the upper floor bathrooms, making efficient use of every volume. Locally sourced heavy timber products enhance sustainability by supporting regional resources and promoting the use of renewable materials.

The concrete unit features a continuous living, dining, and kitchen area that opens to the outdoors in both the front and back, enhancing flow and connection. A palette of natural colors and materials harmonizes interior and exterior spaces, fostering an immersive sensory experience.

Hybrid Habitat presents a timely model for future urban housing that is adaptable while addressing height constraints. The proposal is defined by prototypeable prefabricated structural systems, human-centered design, and the use of sustainable local materials. By optimizing available space with duplex units, shared access stairs, and amenities, it focuses on spatial quality through vertical and horizontal openness, seamless indoor-outdoor connections, and the tactile warmth of natural finishes. This approach envisions a resilient way of living that fosters strong communities.