Small Lots, Big Impacts competition winners create innovative, new housing models for L.A.'s vacant land

Small Lots, Big Impacts, a first-of-its-kind initiative to turn vacant small lots into new starter homes, has announced the winners of its design competition, which drew more than 350 submissions from around the world. Designers created new housing models at a variety of scales and sites, collectively forming a repository of high-quality solutions for the housing challenges facing Los Angeles today. Small Lots, Big Impacts is a partnership between the City of Los Angeles, UCLA’s cityLAB, and LA4LA.

The Small Lots, Big Impacts initiative will build model homes on a number of vacant, residential, City-owned parcels so Angelenos can visit, see, touch, and live in housing tailored to the city. These pilot projects on public land are intended to spur development on the tens of thousands of privately-owned lots with the same characteristics. The loss of so many homes in the January fires, coupled with L.A.’s longstanding lack of affordable housing, brings intense focus to creative solutions.

The jury selected winners in two broad categories: Gentle Density and Shared Future. With multiple winners, there are plenty of options for those interested in developing housing on lots that they own. To see the winning submissions and learn more about the Initiative, please visit the Small Lots, Big Impacts website.

"The City’s architectural community heard and responded to the call, as they came together to produce affordable, high-quality, and sustainable design ideas for new first-time homes in L.A.," said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. "Together, by harnessing the creativity and expertise of the private sector, we are creating new types of housing on City-owned land in L.A. that will benefit generations to come."

"The last time we had popular starter homes was after WWII, when affordable subdivisions were built all over Southern California. The winning architects and designers are showing us what multifamily, attainable homeownership looks like on small lots in contemporary, post-fire Los Angeles," said cityLAB-UCLA Director Dana Cuff, Professor at UCLA AUD.

"UCLA exists to serve the public, and that means helping solve the most pressing problems facing our communities. By reimagining how we use space in our city, UCLA scholars and our partners are advancing bold solutions to one of the region’s most entrenched challenges: affordable housing for all," said UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk.

The over 350 submissions from 36 countries around the world came from small, young firms and large, established ones; lone practitioners and teams; students and seasoned professionals; and local and international firms. A lion’s share of the submissions came from L.A. based firms, and the impressive engagement from the architectural community shows their willing, creative leadership in L.A.’s housing crisis and fire recovery.

Christopher Hawthorne, a member of the Jury and the former Chief Design Officer of Los Angeles (2018-2022) said, "The strong design solutions show that by subdividing standard single-family lots while tucking in ADUs, nine units can look a lot like just one as viewed from the street. Outdoor space is prioritized by creating roof terraces, sharing yards, or stacking homes in mini-towers to make space for private gardens."

In the second stage of the Small Lots, Big Impacts initiative, the Los Angeles Housing Department will release a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Development Teams to win the rights to build housing on city-owned properties. The RFQ issued later this summer will foreground design ingenuity and innovation alongside development experience and financial feasibility. Winning Development Teams are encouraged to utilize the strategies and strong ideas from the Design Competition.

"There is no better time to produce new housing models in Los Angeles that give hope to the tens of thousands of Angelenos facing housing insecurity. The Design Competition has done that. It's more important than ever that we come together and focus our collective energy on developing innovative housing solutions that meet the moment," said Sarah Dusseault, lead strategist LA4LA.

The Small Lots, Big Impacts initiative is the outcome of a collaboration between cityLAB-UCLA, LA4LA, and the City of Los Angeles, including the Office of Mayor Karen Bass, the Housing Department, and City Council. Questions may be addressed by the competition website or directed to smalllotsinfo@ucla.edu.

About cityLAB at UCLA

cityLAB, founded in 2006, is a multidisciplinary design research center situated with the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture, focused on addressing spatial justice concerns. cityLAB leverages design, research, policy, and education to create more just urban futures with real impacts for communities in Los Angeles and beyond. Specifically, the lab explores the challenges facing the 21st century metropolis, expanding the possibilities for our cities to grow more equitably, livably, sustainably, and beautifully, with affordable housing at the center of its efforts. For more information visit: https://cityLAB.UCLA.edu/

About LA4LA

LA4LA bridges the flexibility of philanthropy and private investment, with the scale of government, to expedite homelessness solutions and affordable housing in Los Angeles. Working with generous donors, LA4LA identifies new financing tools and funding to unlock innovation and critically needed investments in research and expert support for implementation. For more information visit: https://www.la4la.org/