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Around the world, new kinds of buildings are developing that cater to the issues prevalent among LGBT people. Shelters are being built for LGBT youth, who make up as much as 40% of America’s homeless population, and low-income housing is being designed for aging seniors who often lack the traditional family structures that support heterosexual elders. Global gay culture doesn’t have any traditional architectural style for designers to work in, and each of these projects tackles the question of what it means to design for a social minority in a different way.
While any of these buildings could be repurposed for a broader population, they all tend to embrace their mission with unconventional flair, balancing color and playful forms with a sense of dignity to create comfortable homes for people who may not have anywhere else to go. Many of the built projects here were realized by affordable housing developers who show that even buildings with humble budgets can still reach pretty lofty heights, both aesthetically and socially.
Los Angeles LGBT Center by Leong Leong, Los Angeles, Calif., United States
Leong Leong‘s design for the Los Angeles LGBT Center is a city within a city responding to needs across the gay community. Spanning more than a city block, the center “includes affordable housing for seniors and young adults, 100 beds for homeless youth, a senior center, retail space, a center for homeless youth, an administrative headquarters, and a cultural event space.” It’s a massive project, far beyond the scale of existing shelters and community centers, and would set a new standard for services for the LGBT community.
La Brea Affordable Housing, West Hollywood, Calif., United Statesby Tighe Architects
The La Brea Affordable Housing project by Tighe Architects wraps a sculptural facade around residences for formerly homeless LGBT youth that center around a generous public courtyard. It’s a playful but economical design riffing off of its rough urban context.
© STUDIO A DVAITA
© STUDIO A DVAITA
Firodia Center by STUDIO A DVAITA, Ahmednagar, India
The Firodia Center in Ahmednagar, India brings color and comfort to an administrative center for an organization that supports women, children, and LGBT people dealing with poverty, illness, and violence. Warm colors and materials bring a sense of respite to the center, and its loose arrangements speaks to its openness to a range of communities.
© Antuany Smith
© Antuany Smith
© Antuany Smith
Town Hall Apartments by Gensler, Chicago, Ill., United States
The Town Hall Apartments in Chicago give low-income for seniors vibrant colors, bold patterns and ample community spaces to foster a sense of aging with vitality. Working on a tight budget means that the designers have to make the most of a little and work with off-the-shelf products in creative ways. The Town Hall Apartments show that affordable housing can provide dignity for day-to-day life.
BOOM by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Rancho Mirage, Calif., United States
BOOM by Joel Sanders Architect, Palm Springs, Calif., United States
© HWKN Architecture
© HWKN Architecture
BOOM Spain by Hollwich Kushner, Malaga, Spain
The BOOM projects challenged architects to invent new strategies for senior LGBT communities. The results are formally diverse campuses that rethink the divide between public and private spaces and what is ‘appropriate’ for senior citizens. The architects’ ideas might not be feasible on a budget, but they suggest that shelter is about more than just providing minimal enclosure, but also about creating exciting, varied experiences that give life a little more joy.
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