"Transforming Surplus Properties - Affordable Housing for All"

In my endeavor, I tried to address the housing challenge in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, by designing self-sustaining social housing at 2277 Maitland Street. St. Patrick’s Alexandra School has remained vacant since 2011, prompting the need for proactive measures to repurpose it and respond to the high housing demand in Halifax. I believe the site can be reused at its maximum capacity to confront this issue effectively. In this design, I have developed diverse floor plans tailored to accommodate a wide range of users, addressing various affordability levels and meeting the demands and activities of families, students, newcomers, youth, seniors, and individuals facing financial difficulties. The expansive project site is currently surrounded by limited amenities, providing an opportunity for revitalization and the transformation of the school in addition to an expansion indicated in the diagrams, into a social hub for both complex residents and the neighborhood. Furthermore, a comprehensive list of programs and activities has been incorporated to cater to users of different age groups, including art classes, music, painting, pottery, children's art programs, sports, and physical wellness activities such as gym facilities, yoga, pilates, pool access, rock climbing, and opportunities for nature engagement and social vegetable gardening. Additional amenities include childcare services, study rooms, mental health consultations, and social event gatherings like markets, outdoor dining, and ice skating. These initiatives aim to create employment opportunities within the site, particularly benefiting residents with lower incomes who can offset their rental fees by participating in these programs, especially users residing in the room-type units. These units are mostly for short-term rental to give this opportunity to those who are mostly in need of this advantage. This approach establishes financially sustainable social housing that fosters self-sufficiency and inclusivity, with the social hub accessible to all users and neighbors. By showcasing a vision of repurposing an abandoned site into a self-sustaining accommodation for over 5070 unhoused individuals while offering a wide array of amenities, this design aims to intensify public awareness of the housing crisis and inspire similar initiatives elsewhere.