The SIX Veterans Housing: Favourable Shelter
The Six offers 52 welcoming and supportive homes to individuals who have experienced homelessness, with 18 of them set aside specifically for veterans. In the military, “got your six” means “I’ve got your back” and highlights the loyalty and bond that soldiers have with each other. Brooks + Scarpa’s innovative design thoughtfully balances privacy with opportunities to connect with the community. The Six has onsite supportive services and 24-hour property management on the ground floor, and community rooms and a spacious courtyard on the second floor that offers peaceful respite and space for social gatherings.
Located in MacArthur Park, The Six is a striking addition to a neighborhood that has one of highest population densities the United States. The Six demonstrates that housing based on the principals of Housing First, Harm Reduction, and Design Equity can be applied in neighborhoods throughout the region to prevent and end homelessness.
Offering shelter and comfort, The SIX breaks the prescriptive mold of the traditional shelter by creating public and private “zones” in which private space is deemphasized, in favor of large public areas. The organization of the space is intended to transform the way people live-away from a reclusive, isolating layout towards a community-oriented, interactive space.
The ground level contains offices, support spaces for the veterans, bike storage and parking while the second level has a large public courtyard. Surrounded by four levels of housing units with balconies wrapped with a wood screen made from recycle planking the courtyard has large openings with green roofs that visually connects the space to the street on the lower level beyond. This allows the tenants to enjoy a secured open space while still connecting to the larger community. The uppermost level has a green roof, large public patio and edible garden with panoramic views of the area.
Materials provided by Brooks + Scarpa
Photography: ©Tara Wujick
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