ABSTRACT
In Redmond, the YWCA commissioned a transitional housing development for homeless and displaced families, called the "Family Village." The building has a broad overhanging pitched roof, a rich combination of materials, and well-detailed trim. All of the exemplary developments share a number of simple design principles. The bulk of each building is broken into small increments. Pitched roofs are used, often in a gabled form. Some semblance of a front porch is frequently found. And delicate, humane touches like horizontal trim boards, brackets, and wide window casing are used. The buildings incorporate peaked roof forms, small scale proportioning, and traditional wood detailing. The effect is one of a small village, rather than a "complex." Ask any child in North America to draw a picture of a house. Almost assuredly, it will have a peaked roof, a chimney, generous windows, and a prominent front door.
