Front Porch Initiative

New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity (NOLAHFH) believes in building more than just houses—they build hope, stability, and community. Rural Studio shares this belief, and it has been at the center of NOLAHFH’s recent collaboration with our Front Porch Initiative and with Thrivent, Rebuilding Together New Orleans, and United Way to provide a home for Anthony, a local Vietnam War veteran.

On February 4th, 2025, NOLAHFH hosted the dedication for their “Super Build Project.” This festive event coincided with the city’s Super Bowl celebrations, further amplifying the spirit of unity and support. The dedication ceremony featured a traditional New Orleans band and brought together community members, volunteers, and partners to honor the U.S. Navy veteran receiving the home. This project reflects the partners’ collective efforts all working toward a shared mission: providing safe, durable, and dignified housing for those who have served our country.

A Collaborative Effort

The team adapted the Sylvia’s House 2/2 prototype with minor modifications to fit the client’s needs, such as reducing it to a 1½-bath layout to accommodate a laundry room.

Acting as the general contractor, NOLAHFH oversaw the project, while Thrivent contributed skilled volunteers to aid in construction. With NOLAHFH covering approximately 50% of the costs through construction materials and services, Thrivent and United Way collectively provided in-kind contributions and financial support totaling $100,000 to ensure the project’s success. Rebuilding Together New Orleans also played a key role, offering additional support and volunteer efforts. And Rural Studio’s Front Porch Initiative provided technical expertise.

Initially, two lots in New Orleans were considered for the build. One contained a substandard structure requiring lengthy demolition permits, so the adjacent, smaller lot was chosen instead. Adjustments were made, including reducing overhangs, and the project swiftly moved through city permitting after receiving the site survey and Base Flood Elevation details (which showed the site to be only three feet above grade). One unique aspect of this build was the repurposing of pre-framed walls originally designated for another Front Porch project with the same design in Jean Lafitte, LA.

Groundbreaking took place in early October 2024, and it included demolishing an existing structure on an adjacent lot to serve as a staging area. Construction advanced quickly, with the foundation piles and the floor framing completed within two weeks. To decrease cost, the team opted to stick-frame the roof rather than use premanufactured trusses. By early December, all framing was completed, walls and roofing were sheathed, and exterior fiber cement siding installation was well underway.

The home achieved FORTIFIED Gold certification for hurricanes, providing enhanced resilience and potential opportunities for discounted home insurance. From an energy efficiency standpoint, the project also integrates several energy-efficient features from previous builds. Rural Studio is honored to be part of this meaningful effort and looks forward to continuing our work in creating affordable housing solutions that strengthen our communities.

International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam

Rural Studio’s Front Porch team was invited to participate in the 11th edition of the International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam (IABR), which took place June through October 2024 at the Nieuwe Instituut Museum in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Led by Jennifer Pindyck, Margaret Fletcher, and Mackenzie Stagg, the exhibit featured the 18×18 Research House. The team took this opportunity to illuminate our understanding that a house is situated within a complex but often invisible “system-of-systems,” and that a careful consideration of exactly what kind of systems these are, is vital to shaping our understanding of housing affordability.

The kind of a problem a house is.

In “the kind of problem a city is,” the final chapter of Jane Jacobs’s The Death and Life of Great American Cities, Jacobs argues that it is perhaps more important to understand what kind of problem cities pose, rather than what the problem is. The Front Porch team has come to better understand a house as an organizational device that serves to combine, leverage, and amplify capital, wealth, safety, health, comfort, social structures, community values, and much, much more across time and generations.

In other words, the challenges of equitable and affordable housing access will not be addressed through bricks and mortar alone. Houses—and the larger system of housing—are complex, adaptive systems. And, until we recognize that current conditions are an intentional outcome of discriminatory policies and programs, we will never be able to truly address these challenges. As designers, the built environment is our medium for making these invisible systems visible. It is a platform upon which we, our partners, and our communities can all work together to imagine alternate potential futures.

18×18 Research House

The 18×18 Research House aims to fulfill the need for a small, adaptable, multistory house in both urban and rural settings. The dimensions and name—18’x18’— comes from the size of two parking spaces, as some cities are negotiating with developers to lessen parking requirements in exchange for inclusion of additional affordable housing units. The small footprint also allows the design to function as an accessory dwelling unit (ADU). ADUs can be built on single-family properties to create more density and housing opportunities in urban neighborhoods. In rural areas, such a small house can be built on family properties that may not have buildable space for a larger home. Rural properties often have obstacles such as septic fields, power lines, drainage areas, or existing structures that can drastically reduce the buildable footprint. The 18×18 House can provide extra space for a growing family or to maintain the kinship network in situations where space may not exist for additions or new construction.

The Exhibition and the Team

Front Porch team members Rusty Smith and Mackenzie Stagg traveled to Rotterdam in June to set up the materials in the exhibition space of the Nieuwe Instituut, installing the board and model in time for the opening symposium of the Biennale. On October 12, 2024, team members Christian Ayala and Betsy Farrell Garcia participated in the closing conversation, entitled Flourishing Futures. They presented in a panel session focused on Land and Policy, considering how financial influences shape land use and how designers can respond within policy constraints, and even challenge them.

Student Design Team: Jake Buell, Julie DiDeo, Meagan Mitchell, and Naomi Tony- Alabi

Teaching Team: Andrew Freear, Steve Long, and John Marusich

Research Team: Seth Aude, Margaret Fletcher, Elizabeth Farrell Garcia, Christian Ayala Lopez, Emily McGlohn, Jennifer Pindyck, Rusty Smith, and Mackenzie Stagg

Rural Studio’s own Emily McGlohn and Mackenzie Stagg were recognized at halftime along with six other Auburn folks supporting rural initiatives on Saturday, August 31st at Jordan-Hare Stadium in front of a crowd of over 88,000 people!

Emily is Associate Professor and Extension Specialist based in Newbern, Alabama. Each year she teaches dozens of 3rd-year architecture students new to Rural Studio, and often new to rural life. Her classes push them to grow as budding, thoughtful architects and as involved community members. Emily and her students also work together to design and build a new home for one of our Hale County neighbors. She’s a wiz at collaborating with specialists across disciplines to find workable, affordable solutions for the wastewater crisis in rural communities. Those problems are particularly challenging in the Black Belt, with soils that often make septic systems unworkable. She is also a fierce and effective advocate for healthful housing, researching building and finishing materials that promote health and wellness.

Mackenzie is an Assistant Research Professor based in Auburn, Alabama. She is a project manager on the Front Porch Initiative, which extends our knowledge of best practices through providing design and technical assistance to a wide range of partners across six states. Front Porch Initiative works with a variety of not-for-profit housing providers building Rural Studio designs across the Southeast as well as interfacing with housing policy stakeholders at the state, regional, and national levels. Mackenzie manages this critical work with both expertise and grace, making it look easy.

We’re so proud of Emily and Mackenzie!

#WarEagle

Welcome to our recap of the 2024 Habitat for Humanity Affiliate Conference, a gathering that epitomized collaboration, innovation, and community empowerment. Held in the vibrant city of Atlanta, GA, between March 4-7, this event brought together over 2,000 passionate individuals dedicated to the efforts of housing affordability. With an extensive offering of more than 150 workshops, the Front Porch team along with our partners had the opportunity to lead panels and present in sessions on diverse topics influencing the future of housing initiatives. Proudly sponsoring at the Bronze Hammer level, we showcased our commitment to driving impactful change across the Southeast, unveiling collaborative research and highlighting our regional footprint. Our Front Porch team, actively engaged with current Habitat partners and initiated connections with potential future collaborations.

One of our innovative and active Housing Partners, New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, was honored with 2024 Best in Climate Resiliency National Home Design Award for their Rural Studio-designed homes. This award recognizes the incorporation of high-preforming and resilient design features in the rebuilding efforts in Jean Lafitte, Louisiana. To learn more about this project and our collaboration with NOLAHFH, see our case study in Jean Lafitte.     

At the conference, we were extremely fortunate to be given the valuable opportunity to moderate and present at several workshops alongside our Housing Affiliate Partners. This experience allowed us to not only share our expertise and insights but also to collaborate closely with our partners, exchanging ideas and knowledge to create meaningful and engaging sessions for all participants. It was a rewarding experience that strengthened our relationships and contributed to discourse of the conference as a whole.

Dollars and Sense: How to Select and Implement Performance Improvements with Grant Funding

Presenters:

• Betsy Farrell Garcia, Auburn University Rural Studio
• Mark Grantham, Auburn-Opelika Habitat for Humanity
• Carmen Smith, Chipola Area Habitat for Humanity

The presenters discussed the ongoing research with Habitat affiliates and Auburn University Rural Studio that demonstrates how the savings realized from improved building performance can be shifted from an operational expense to an investment in the value of a home. The two affiliates shared their decision-making process for using BuildBetter with Whirlpool grant funding on energy efficiency and resilience improvements. For more information on these case studies please see: AOHFH Stevens Street and CAHFH Chipola Street

BuildBetter with Whirlpool: A Shared Vision for Climate-Resilient Housing

Presenters:

• Rusty Smith, Auburn University Rural Studio
• Teunis Aarnoudse, Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley
• Edwin Hensley, Habitat for Humanity International
• Rosa Skinner, Whirlpool
• Wendi Goodlett, Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County

In this session, the participants interacted with an affiliate implementor, research partner (Rural Studio), and Whirlpool representative. The Habitat affiliates shared their resources to successfully implement and achieve these shared goals.  Each initiative’s research partner discussed lessons learned about homebuyer satisfaction and the impacts this technology has on affordable housing and how that can support our decision-making for future builds and even our storytelling.

Build Influence: Actionable and Systems-Based Innovations in Housing Affordability

Presenters:

• Mackenzie Stagg, Auburn University Rural Studio
• Marguerite Oestreicher, New Orleans Area Habitat
• Carmen Smith, Chipola Area Habitat for Humanity

This panel session shared actionable pathways for going “beyond the build” by seeking opportunities to influence the larger systems in which Habitat homes are situated. Panelists presented tangible examples and results from successful pilots for how Habitat affiliates have engaged in influencing zoning policy, diversification of financing, and expansion of home product lines while collaborating with organizations, including colleges and universities, government agencies, financial institutions, and other community development agencies. For more information on these case studies please see: NOLAHFH Jean Lafitte and CAHFH Chipola Street.

We also want to highlight and share some other great and impactful work sessions led by our external Partners that we were able to attend and support.

Affordable Home Financing: Emerging Options and Opportunities

Presenters:

• Sidra Goldwater, Fannie Mae
• Cynthia Williams, Chipola Area Habitat for Humanity
• Dwane Krumme, Habitat for Humanity of La Pine Sunriver
• Sara Padilla, Habitat for Humanity of Oregon

They discussed emerging and existing pathways to expand financing options for homebuyers. They presented a collaborative pilot project that demonstrates how sweat equity can be an acceptable source for Fannie Mae’s HomeReady mortgage loans and add value to closing. The first implementation of this product was in collaboration with Rural Studio’s Front Porch Initiative in the Chipola Street development in Mariana, Florida.

Weaving the Work: How Strategic Partnerships and Collaboration Advance Black Homeownership

Presenters:

• Maria Evans, Fannie Mae
• Brooke Walker, Minnesota Homeownership Center;
• Robyn Bipes-Timm, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity;
• Aarica Coleman, City of Bloomington, Minnesota;
• Talaya Lawson-Shoals and Shereese Turner, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

In this session, the presenters covered the discovery of shared objectives, innovation, resource sharing, market access, risk mitigation, negotiation, and agreements, along with the evaluation and adjustments necessary for a fruitful alliance. The speakers elaborated on the Twin Cities Habitat’s ongoing collaboration with Fannie Mae, Minnesota’s Homeownership Center, and the City of Bloomington in weaving a tapestry of strategic partnership.

The Front Porch Initiative team had a busy 2023. Over the course of the year, we provided technical assistance to twelve partners in six states. They built homes based on Rural Studio housing prototypes that incorporate climate-resilience and energy-efficiency. At the close of 2023, Front Porch Initiative housing partners had ten houses in development, six housing units under construction, and six homes completed. While recent blog posts shared the home dedications for Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County (SC) and Community Housing Corp of Madison County (NC), the team also celebrated the completion of another four homes in Greenville and the dedication of a home in Lafitte, Louisiana, 45 minutes south of New Orleans. 

These homes represent milestones for our housing provider partners: for Habitat Greenville, the accessible two-bedroom, two-bathroom design expands the client base the affiliate can serve, including single homeowners and those with limited mobility. For New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity (NOAHH), the home dedicated in April 2023 is the first in a disaster recovery effort to rebuild a working coastal town decimated by Hurricane Ida in August 2021. As a replacement home leveraging the homeowners’ existing property and infrastructure, the home is certified to both ENERGY STAR and FORTIFIED Gold for Hurricane standards to increase resilience for an uncertain energy future and potential weather events. Partnerships with these organizations have deepened our understanding of the housing procurement process, equipping us to share those findings with other partners working through similar challenges in land use, financing, insurance, or other areas.

Auburn alum Christian Ayala joined Rural Studio as a Research Architect in January 2023 after receiving his Master of Science in Architecture with a focus on housing from Rice University. With the expansion of the team, our capacity to provide technical assistance expanded significantly, and the product line of homes grew to include two new additions: a new adaptation of the Dave’s House prototype with an added nook and a duplex prototype. Products offered to housing provider partners draw on the research conducted by faculty, staff, and students in West Alabama; for this version of Dave’s, the housing partner needed a home with additional living space, so we incorporated a quarter-bedroom concept developed by Rural Studio students, the 3rd-year team that built Ophelia’s Home. As part of prototype development this year, the Front Porch team explored new technologies, including insulated concrete forms (ICF) with NOAHH, in partnership with concrete industry partners; we even participated in the build. Future material and process investigations may include mass timber and offsite construction. 

In addition to meeting with partners across the Southeast, we traveled to Cosanti, Arizona, to present at the Building Technology Educators’ Society (BTES) Conference; to Salt Lake City, Utah, to present at the Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA) Summit; and to Washington, DC, to attend the Housing Assistance Council (HAC) Conference. We welcomed an array of visitors to Hale County as well: representatives of Fannie Mae’s leadership team, participants in a HAC Placemaking Summit, builder partners, and regional policymakers. 

In 2024, we already have some exciting opportunities lined up, including presentations at the Habitat for Humanity Affiliate Conference, the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) 112^th Annual Meeting, and the Pennsylvania Housing Research Center (PHRC) Residential Building Design and Construction Conference. Stay tuned!