"Affordable Housing" Coming to a City Near You
Words: Dan KamysLast year, the National Building Museum's (NBM) exhibition "Affordable Housing: Designing an American Asset" was on view in Washington, D.C., where it joined the discussion of what a home means to many Americans, and what good design means to affordable housing. The exhibition surveyed the beginnings of affordable housing in 19th-century America, examined the designs that characterized early and mid 20th-century developments, and looked at 18 examples of the newest and best in affordable housing today.
The 18 featured projects represented rural and urban settings across the nation, so it's fitting that the "Affordable Housing" exhibition is preparing to tour sites from Connecticut to Washington state.
The designs and strategies of the 21st century are showing real signs that affordable housing can be an asset for a community, by mixing uses, styles and income levels. Over the next year, you can check them out at the following venues:
Museum of History and Industry
Seattle, WA
July 1-Aug. 27, 2005
The Lyceum Partnership for Strong Communities
Hartford, CT
Sept. 1-Oct. 16, 2005
Museum of Design, Atlanta
Atlanta, GA
Jan. 21-March 19, 2006
I Space
Chicago, IL
Aug. 4-20, 2006
If "Affordable Housing" doesn't make it to a venue near you, you can visit the online exhibition at www.nbm.org/Exhibits/online/affordable_housing/ah_index.html.
For more information on the National Building Museum or to learn about other exhibits, please visit www.nbm.org.