House of the Feathered Edges
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A modular row-house prototype that softens boundaries between inside and outside, redefining domestic thresholds under urban density and wildfire risk.
Concept
Rather than reinforcing rigid separations between public and private, the project explores the concept of the “feathered edge” — a threshold condition that blurs instead of divides. Inspired by the way edges in nature transition gradually rather than abruptly, the design proposes a housing model where domestic life unfolds through layered gradients — between indoor and outdoor, personal and communal, fixed and adaptive.
Spatial & System Strategy
Two interlocking unit types are vertically staggered to produce cross-occupation, allowing one dwelling to partially support another. Circulation weaves through these overlaps, acting not as simple movement corridors but as zones of encounter and negotiation. Each unit contains both an inward-facing private core and an outward-facing social threshold, where balconies, terraces, and shared landings operate as soft interfaces encouraging casual interaction among residents.
Thresholds in Motion
Circulation acts as the connective tissue of the housing system, weaving through interlocked units to create transitions and encounters. Beyond access, it operates as a threshold— where vertical and horizontal paths intersect, and where public and private begin to overlap. These spatial overlaps transform circulation into a catalyst for exchange, reinforcing the dwelling’s adaptive and collective character.
Outcomes
The housing prototype demonstrates how density does not have to mean compression, and privacy does not require full isolation. By designing with gradients instead of boundaries, the project proposes a spatial ethic where community is not enforced through shared programs but emerges naturally through calibrated proximity. The work reframes housing as an adaptable social framework rather than a fixed architectural object.
