--The new "Re-defining Home: Home Today, Home Tomorrow" contest will create a model home for growing-in-place--
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2015 — (PRNewswire) — Architects and designers are invited to present concepts to model the future of housing – for millions of older Americans – with the new Re-defining Home: Home Today, Home Tomorrow design challenge, presented by the AARP, AARP Foundation, Home Matters® and the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation.
The competition is part of the Home Matters national movement, designed to ensure every American lives in a safe, nurturing environment with access to education, healthcare, public spaces and community services. The Re-defining Home: Home Today, Home Tomorrow winning entry's design will be integrated into an actual home, and the contest will be unveiled at AARP's Future of Housing Summit. The competition challenges architects and designers to address housing needs for Americans particularly for people 50-plus who intend on growing-in-place.
"We know that the vast majority of people want to remain in their homes and communities for as long as possible," said Lisa Marsh Ryerson, AARP Foundation president. "More than 19 million low-income 50-plus households struggle with unaffordable or inadequate housing and we must act now to implement innovative housing solutions. We look forward to seeing design concepts that will help create new ways of addressing our nation's housing needs for our communities including vulnerable seniors."
The Re-defining Home: Home Today, Home Tomorrow contest challenges architects to create new standards in housing design so people can stay in their home as they travel through various life stages: From entering the workforce, getting married, having a family, sending kids to college, becoming a grandparent, following their passions with new careers and hobbies, and considering retirement. The goal of the design challenge is to generate universal design elements and build an attractive, adaptable, and affordable home of the future that speaks to and showcases livability, by promoting both aesthetically- and functionally-appealing designs for better living.
Monetary awards will be made to three juried winning entries. The first place, winning design incorporated into a real-life home will be publically unveiled to provide an experiential learning opportunity for the general public. This home will also be offered to a growing family.
Martin Sundquist, executive director of the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation added, "We believe everyone deserves a decent, safe place to call home. While people tend to buy or live in homes based on their present-day circumstances, this can present issues at other life stages. Moving costs money, creates emotional stress, leaves behind precious memories, disrupts relationships, and creates impediments to accessing support services. This design challenge will ultimately build stronger communities by creating affordable housing solutions."
The average cost of a move within the U.S. is $12,459 alone, according to the American Moving & Storage Association.
Home Matters' CEO Dave Brown commented, "Life is about change. This competition alters the paradigm and re-imagines Home so it can change with our needs, as we evolve in life. Home Matters believes strongly that Home is a quality of life issue and this competition speaks directly to that – the elements that make for a safe, nurturing place to call Home."
Architects and designers can register today at http://bit.ly/1jg5R1t. Submissions will be open on January 20th.
Thirty architectural, design, university partners and other organizations are supporting this this competition - from our lead partner AIA San Francisco to AIA Austin, AIA California Council, AIA DC, AIA Los Angeles, AIA Houston, AIA New Orleans, AIA Seattle, AIA Tennessee, American Architectural Foundation, American Society of Interior Designers, Boston Society of Architects, Caring Across Generations, Design Corps, Enterprise, Habitat for Humanity, Journeyman International, Leading Age, Make Room For Home, National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Organization of Minority Architects, NeighborWorks America, New York School of Interior Design, Public Architecture, Syracuse Architecture, Texas Society of Architecture, Rice School of Architecture, SPUR, Urban Land Institute (Terwilliger Center for Housing) and The Autodesk Foundation.
This is the second year of the Re-defining Home competition. Last year, Home Matters challenged architects and allied professionals to design a multi-family unit that addressed affordability and community issues.
About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services. A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin;
www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at
www.aarp.org.
About AARP Foundation
AARP Foundation is working to win back opportunity for struggling Americans 50+ by being a force for change on the most serious issues they face today: housing, hunger, income and isolation. By coordinating responses to these issues on all four fronts at once, and supporting them with vigorous legal advocacy, the Foundation serves the unique needs of those 50+ while working with local organizations nationwide to reach more people, strengthen communities, work more efficiently and make resources go further. AARP Foundation is AARP's affiliated charity. Learn more at
www.aarpfoundation.org.
About Home Matters®
Home Matters is a national movement designed to ensure that every American lives in a safe, nurturing environment with access to education, healthcare, public spaces and community services. A key part of what we are doing is re-defining the American Dream. We believe the New American Dream is a societal commitment to improve and balance quality of life and that Home is our nation's common denominator. We exist to raise funds and build awareness of the need for more affordable homes and better communities across the country. We're a national coalition with over 300 nonprofit, government and corporate partners working hard toward ambitious goals over the next decade.
www.homemattersamerica.com.
About The Wells Fargo Housing Foundation
In 2014, the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation donated nearly $20 million in support of affordable housing initiatives serving low-and moderate-income households – including for seniors, veterans, and families – through community revitalization efforts. Since its inception in 1993, the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation has invested more than $150 million to such efforts, along with mobilizing more than 4.6 million team member volunteer hours to build and rehabilitate more than 5,500 homes and counting.
www.wellsfargo.com/about/wfhf_oview.
About AIASF
Serving the Bay Area for more than a century, the American Institute of Architects, San Francisco Chapter represents more than 2,000 members in San Francisco and Marin Counties. As a resource for our members and the general public, AIA San Francisco strives to improve the quality of life in the Bay Area by promoting architecture and design. We further this goal through community involvement, education, advocacy, public outreach, member services, and professional excellence.
www.aiasf.org .
