This two-stage, international design competition calls for a single family house with up to 1,400 SF, including 3 bedrooms and 1½ - 2 bathrooms, on a 50' x 100' site in Houston’s historic Fifth Ward. The winning design should be adaptable to a variety of sites in the area, including 33' x 90' lots and 40' x 100' lots. The construction budget must be under $99,000. Entry fee for each project is $99, payable by check, Visa, or Master Card at the time of registration.

Entrants should check the web site periodically for any announcements, changes, and other updated information regarding the competition.

Stage I: 
All entries must be submitted electronically by January 14, 2008. A distinguished jury will choose three finalists, each of whom will receive a $5,000 award provided that they commit to continuing to develop their design through construction documents.

Stage II:  
The three projects chosen for continuation can be refined and the winning entrants must submit construction documents before March 31, 2008. The same jury will review the resubmissions along with pricing provided by a Houston-area home builder. The ultimate winner, who will receive an additional $5,000 award, will be selected by the jury based on pricing, design, sustainability, and adaptability for reproduction in the Gulf Coast region.

As much as possible this will be a paperless, web-based competition; all entries must be electronic. Registration, Submission instructions, Schedule, Program, Submission Requirements, Rules and Regulations, Jury information, and Frequently Asked Questions and Answers are posted on the competition Web site. Jurors will come together in Houston to view submissions electronically. After the winner is chosen, an exhibition of selected entries will be mounted at the Architecture Center Houston, and a catalog including selected entries and details of the three final projects will be published. 

The City of Houston is donating a site for the house through the Land Assemblage Redevelopment Authority (LARA) initiative.

CONTEXT

Houston’s Fifth Ward neighborhood, a residential area east of downtown Houston, is a low-income neighborhood characterized primarily by wood-clad, one-story cottages on raised pier foundations.  Established in the late nineteenth century, the Fifth Ward contains small-scale houses with a high ratio of public service amenities such as parks, schools, churches, and community centers. This area has seen recent decay through neglect of homeowners, which has led to many vacant lots and foreclosures.

The neighborhood was selected as the site for The 99K House Competition because the organizers believe that construction of one prototypical affordable house here will initiate neighborhood revitalization.  We hope our interest in this neighborhood will encourage low-income families who have left their neighborhood to return. The competition will also address the changing demographic of low-income families in the Gulf Coast region.

Prevailing building heights, massing, and residential uses contribute to a consistent and harmonious character found among the immediate surroundings and should be considered. 

AFFORDABILITY

Construction costs cannot exceed $99,000, as designated by Houston contractors who will provide pricing for the three final proposals. Organizers of the competition believe that this is a realistic budget, given local economic conditions. However, entrants must be aware that the 99K budget includes builder’s overhead and profit, all appliances, hardware, and finishes, and any additional engineering or architectural fees. Logically, hard construction costs of materials and labor should be in the range of $75,000.

SUSTAINABILITY

All entries should recognize that sustainable construction systems and materials will be considered by the jury, who will recognize that through efficient energy use, initial cost can be offset by savings in ongoing utility bills. Energy generated by on-site sustainable technologies can exceed ENERGY STAR® requirements, further contributing to lower overall annual operating costs. 

By site positioning, massing, and overall design, building elements can shade otherwise exposed exterior building materials thereby lowering exposure to solar heat gain and baseline energy demands. Exterior shading may also protect exposed building surfaces from ultraviolet light that deteriorates surfaces and increases maintenance costs. 

When applying low-maintenance material systems, higher initial cost may provide enhanced long term benefits. Other optimal choices for material systems are those that cause less pollution or contribute less to the non-renewable waste stream. Construction waste should be minimized. Materials and processes that yield a smaller environmental footprint have benefits to both the homeowners and the broader community.

A 3-bedroom, 1½ to 2-bathroom, single-family house up to 1,400 SF and appropriate for four people. If a garage is included, its SF must be included in the total number of SF of the project. Carports need not be included in SF but will add to construction cost. Two on-site parking places are required, but they do not have to be covered and can be one behind the other. The design should be flexible and appropriate for construction, either as infill or as block redevelopment within Houston’s underdeveloped inner city neighborhoods.

All entries should address the following considerations:
   • Climate in the Gulf Coast region
   • Maintenance and material life span
   • Energy efficiency (www.energystar.gov)
   • Affordability ≤ 99K
   • LARA guidelines: (www.houstontx.gov/lara/)
   • The principles of Social, Economic, Environmental Design

Houses may be of pier-and-beam or slab-on-grade construction. Houses may be constructed on-site or may consist of modular units, constructed off-site. Houses may not exceed two stories, shall have space for a stacked washer and dryer, a 30" cooking range, and a 36" refrigerator. Appliances should be included in the construction budget.

The successful competitor will use sustainable building practices and materials with a special concern for affordability, longevity, energy savings benefits, and appropriateness for the hot, humid Houston climate. All entrants should design with as many energy-efficient standards as possible. The winning design should use the fewest resources (labor and materials) to achieve the highest design impact.

While the competition provides a specific site, the house design should demonstrate its adaptability to other site conditions and orientations.

The $99,000 construction limit must include construction costs, financing, closing costs, commissions, overhead, and profit. The actual construction budget in the Houston area will be approximately $75,000. The lot and infrastructure are not included in this figure.

To download budget template (excel), Click here.