The ambitions of this The Cat[walks] and the Hat[s]included the formation of attainable housingthat fosters community connections in familiar and novel ways. It seeks to address a dialogueand sensibility with the site’s shifting conditionsand future aspirations, all while using stockmaterials to form a much different exterior conditionsthan expected. It also seeks to create unique and intimate domestic conditions for residents of all types to enjoy.

The buildings situated on the largest lots, line Kercheval Avenue and take up a bar building typology. They address the edges of this larger lot to create a strong urban edge and work together to capture outdoor space between buildings. Buildings further back from the street look to funnel the conditions of Butzel Park into our site. The park conditions spill into our courtyards, and the park paths intersect our buildings. Inversely, one of our buildings reaches into the park, but gives it additional programs in the form of a small stage and gathering space. The boundary between the park and our site is deliberately blurred.

Three base pieces compose our structural kit of parts, all of which are structurally composed ofCLT. The first piece, the program module, which can be understood as a floor condition as well as the residential programming elements, the interior walls, ducts and plumbing. Next, the wall condition, which includes the vertical structural system and window apertures of the units. The third piece of our kit of parts, the hats, are a series of ceiling and roof conditions that top each module.