Step(x) Housing:
Ongoing
Architects have experimented on disadvantaged people with good intentions but limited success. This idea is novel, but not experimental. It has been derived from listening to unhoused people themselves and the social service providers who have devoted their careers to taking on one of society’s most intractable problems: homelessness.
This is an ongoing project that has culminated in multiple built examples and proposals.
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Press:
“The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees” Planetizen, April 15, 2025
“Homeless Shelters That Prioritize ‘the Three Ps’ - Especially Privacy” Jane Margolies, New York Times, August 29, 2024
“This Modular Building Eases the Transition for Formerly Homeless People without Sacrificing their Comfort” Nate Berg, Fast Company, May 14, 2024
“With the San Mateo County Navigation Center, Charles F. Bloszies Pioneers a Rapid Response to Homelessness” Clare Jacoson, Architectural Record, May 1, 2024
“It will be the biggest navigation center in Northern California. Can it end homelessness in this Bay Area?” Kevin Fagan, San Francisco Chronicle, December 26, 2022
“Cost of Ending California’s Homeless Crisis: $100B,”Jack Rodgers, ALM GlobeSt, December 22, 2022
“In Silicon Valley, a Successful Homeless Housing Solution“ Mike Welton, Architects and Artisans, October 14, 2022
Awards:
World Changing Ideas 2024 Award - Fast Company
Community Impact Award - 2023 Silicon Valley Business Journal, Structures Awards
Award of Merit: Government/Public Building - 2023 ENRCalifornia Regional Best Projects
Status:
Ongoing
Built:
Homekey Mountain View
San Mateo County Navigation Center
Location:
California
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“Tiny House” Model
Durable And Relocatable
Flexible And Scalable
Rapid Build, Light Touch, Low Cost
Leverages Existing Facilities to Minimize Site and Infrastructure Cost
Durable And Relocatable
Flexible And Scalable
Rapid Build, Light Touch, Low Cost
Leverages Existing Facilities to Minimize Site and Infrastructure Cost
Campus Style Array of Modules
Flexible and Scalable
Faster And Less Expensive Than Traditional Construction.
Critical Step Between Emergency Shelter And Permanent Housing.
PROVEN Concept
Flexible and Scalable
Faster And Less Expensive Than Traditional Construction.
Critical Step Between Emergency Shelter And Permanent Housing.
PROVEN Concept
Apartment Buidling Model
Flexible and Scalable
Faster And Less Expensive than Traditional Construction
One Module Makes = All Residential And Support Units
Flexible and Scalable
Faster And Less Expensive than Traditional Construction
One Module Makes = All Residential And Support Units
Step(0) - NowHouse/San Francisco Earthquake Cottage
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?
The city built over 5,000 tiny, one-room shelters to house those displaced by the 1906 earthquake and fire. These endearing little structures were called Earthquake Cottages and were rapidly deployed in large number on open spaces with the intent they would be moved to permanent locations. Many have survived, are still lived in today, and are cherished by their residents.
While over a century has passed since this historic disaster, the strategies used to tackle this previous housing emergency can very much inform the way we approach our current one. We have designed a contemporary version of the earthquake cottage to address homelessness – we call it the NowHouse
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1906 - SF Earthquake Cottage
2025 - NowHouse
1906 - SF Earthquake Cottage
2025 - NowHouse
1906 - SF Earthquake Cottage
2025 - NowHouse
1906 - SF Earthquake Cottage
2025 - NowHouse
Copyright: Office of Charles F. Bloszies, 2024
Step(1)
Interim Supportive Housing`
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Project Sites:
San Jose
2.02 acres
3 tories
188 doors
Under construction
2.02 acres
3 tories
188 doors
Under construction
Kit of Parts:
sl-2-ba
2-Unit Sleeping Module
w/ Private Bathrooms
200 gsf/unit
w/ Private Bathrooms
200 gsf/unit
spt-1
Support Services Module
(1) 0ffice
200 gsf
Support Services Module
(1) 0ffice
200 gsf
sl-4
4-Unit Sleeping Module
100 gsf/unit
100 gsf/unit
ts-2
Toilet and Shower Module
(2) toilet rooms
(1) janitor’s Closet
(2) toilet rooms
(1) janitor’s Closet
sl-3
3-Unit Sleeping Module
133 gsf/unit
133 gsf/unit
fs-1
Food Service Module
sl-fam
Flexible Back to Back Modules
(2) 400 gsf units with private bathrooms
or (1) 400 gsf unit with private bathrooms + (2) 200 gsf unit with shared bathrooms
or (4) 200 gsf units with shared bathrooms
or (1) 800 gsf unit with (2) private bathrooms
(2) 400 gsf units with private bathrooms
or (1) 400 gsf unit with private bathrooms + (2) 200 gsf unit with shared bathrooms
or (4) 200 gsf units with shared bathrooms
or (1) 800 gsf unit with (2) private bathrooms
spt-4
Support Services Module
(4) offices
100 gsf/office
(4) offices
100 gsf/office
ts-4
Toilet and Shower Module
(4) toilet + lavatory compartments
(3) shower stalls
(4) toilet + lavatory compartments
(3) shower stalls
Site Installation:
These modules have been designed so
they may be transformed into dwelling
units with kitchens after being occupied
initially as sleeping units without cooking:
Copyright: Office of Charles F. Bloszies, 2024
Step(2)
Permanent Supportive Housing
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Option A
(6) Studio Units
(2) 1-Bedroom Units
(2) 2-Bedroom Units
(6) Studio Units
(2) 1-Bedroom Units
(2) 2-Bedroom Units
Option B
(11) Studio Units
(1) 1-Bedroom Units
(1) 2-Bedroom Units
(11) Studio Units
(1) 1-Bedroom Units
(1) 2-Bedroom Units
Option C
(7) Studio Units
(3) 1-Bedroom Units
(1) 2-Bedroom Units
(7) Studio Units
(3) 1-Bedroom Units
(1) 2-Bedroom Units
The Step(2) basic module can be arrayed in an almost infinite number of configurations and can yield a variety of unit mixes. The four examples here utilize only ONE module with an off-set corridor plus a vertical circulation module, with or without elevators depending on the number of stories.
Copyright: Office of Charles F. Bloszies, 2024