​​This project begins with the re-building of a demolished house on a remaining concrete slab in the southeast section of Memphis. Office of Basic Architecture (OOBA) and Hopscotch created a new design for the 1,442 sf house to fit the existing slab of a 1950s home. The proposal prioritizes functional design with affordability and health at its core.

The new home will include 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room, kitchen, dining room and ancillary spaces built upon the foundation of the previous house. The generous backyard will get some landscaping upgrades and the existing driveway and rear shed will remain. The new stoop will lead to an entry door in the same location as the original house. 

The Healthy Materials Lab team is assessing and recommending healthier building materials, considering cost, performance, toxicity, and carbon reduction for inclusion in the specifications. Together, the design, construction and HML team is pursuing methods to create an energy-efficient envelope with healthy materials that meet the evolving needs of the mixed-humid climate in Memphis. Through design and craftsmanship, the goal is to create spaces that are inspiring and provide access for families to live in a healthy home.

“We’re encouraged by working with developers like Hopscotch Construction that not only care about embodied carbon and material health, but also aim to improve the mental health of inhabitants with generous yet efficient layouts, handcrafted construction techniques, and a design aesthetic that accepts personalization and a variety of styles.” -Will Randolph, AIA, lead project architect 

All partners recognize that renovation of existing housing is an effective response to reducing the carbon emissions associated with new construction. For this project the concrete slab is retained and much of the lumber from the original house will be reused. 

Everyone involved in the project has agreed upon this mutual vision, which is critical to the success of creating healthier design and construction. There is a shared curiosity and commitment from the architects and contractors involved to consider building products they have never previously used. All partners understand that sometimes, a material swap is not as simple as a substitution of ‘this’ for ‘that.’ A substitution involves a comprehensive understanding of the necessary site-specific criteria and installation requirements. These are often more complex in a renovation than in a new building project. The team recognizes that avoiding harmful materials, like some adhesives, means the introduction of construction methods that require skilled craftspeople may be necessary. 

This project partnership began in 2023 with a community in Memphis, Tennessee. Averell Mondie, co-founder of Hopscotch Construction, spearheaded the project in collaboration with OOBA, local government support, and the HML project team. The project goal is to demonstrate how to transform affordable, workforce housing in Memphis to be healthier and climate neutral. 

The partnership plans to extend its impact beyond this initial pilot project home, applying the knowledge to larger-scale developments, including multi-family homes. The goal is to set a new standard for the design, construction, and renovation of affordable housing for the entire region. 

On behalf of HML, Jonsara Ruth visited Memphis to meet the team in person, see the site and learn more about the context for this pilot project. She brought back site photos of Baine Avenue on a wet spring day, visited urban farms, and met several young local innovators including entrepreneur Kimani Shotwell who uses animals for land management in the city. His company Regraze uses sheep and goats to transform urban landscapes, and he employs “urban shepherds” to supervise the animals while they are doing their work to create a greener, healthier Memphis.

Check back often for project updates. 

HML project team: Jonsara Ruth, Leila Behjat