7509 PENN

7509 Penn is an infill duplex. In collaboration with Kansas State University’s Design+Make Studio, Botwin attempted to build affordable housing without incentives. The design had to meet the financial constraints of this intent while also grappling with the unique position of the site, a vacant lot in between single family homes and a car repair shop. In the end, the economic goals were unfeasible. This experiment argues for a city development plan that focuses more on small-scale infill, as opposed to large scale cookie cutter projects. These developments could be city incentivized and community driven, as opposed to financially motivated and developer controlled.

7509 Pennsylvania Ave., Kansas City, Missouri
Year Built: 2017
Architect: Design+Make Studio (Lead by David Dowell of El Dorado Architects)
Photographer: Mike Sinclair