Add To Collection
Add to Collection
The Aya
The Aya
Washington, DC, United States
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
Other Projects by YKK AP America, Inc.
The Aya
Washington, DC, United States
Firm
Type
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2020
SIZE
25,000 sqft - 100,000 sqft
BUDGET
$10M - 50M
As Washington DC’s homeless population grows, The Aya provides affordable, short-term family housing, with enough units to house up to 50 families in the seven-story building.
The project team worked hard to create a space that reflected respect, empathy and equity for its residents while reshaping the idea of what affordable, temporary housing looks like.
Conversations with community residents led to the incorporation of many of their priorities into the final design. These included preserving green space, a preference for a taller building, and having no real front or back to the building. That particular idea led to the unique staggered elevation facade design that is different on each side.
Natural light floods the interior throughout all times of the day thanks to the checkering of utility-size brick with large glazed windows, while also enabling the preservation of existing tree canopies in the neighborhood.
The roofs of the residential units on the stepped side of the building have incorporated small green roofs, which mimic front lawns for the apartment that looks onto it, and community areas on each floor are marked by large windows facing the U.S. Capitol building.
Inside the LEED-Gold certified building, residents are immersed in bright, clean spaces with pops of color that elevate the interior design and create a surprising connection to the architecture. Since the majority of the residents are young mothers with small children, each of the floors is considered to be its own neighborhood and access is restricted to the families assigned to that floor. This helps residents build relationships with their neighbors while prioritizing safety and privacy for the families.
The Aya provides a dignified path to assist those working to stabilize their living situation and exit homelessness.
The project team worked hard to create a space that reflected respect, empathy and equity for its residents while reshaping the idea of what affordable, temporary housing looks like.
Conversations with community residents led to the incorporation of many of their priorities into the final design. These included preserving green space, a preference for a taller building, and having no real front or back to the building. That particular idea led to the unique staggered elevation facade design that is different on each side.
Natural light floods the interior throughout all times of the day thanks to the checkering of utility-size brick with large glazed windows, while also enabling the preservation of existing tree canopies in the neighborhood.
The roofs of the residential units on the stepped side of the building have incorporated small green roofs, which mimic front lawns for the apartment that looks onto it, and community areas on each floor are marked by large windows facing the U.S. Capitol building.
Inside the LEED-Gold certified building, residents are immersed in bright, clean spaces with pops of color that elevate the interior design and create a surprising connection to the architecture. Since the majority of the residents are young mothers with small children, each of the floors is considered to be its own neighborhood and access is restricted to the families assigned to that floor. This helps residents build relationships with their neighbors while prioritizing safety and privacy for the families.
The Aya provides a dignified path to assist those working to stabilize their living situation and exit homelessness.
Product Spec Sheet
Were your products used?
Join as a manufacturer to add your products.