Ridglea West: a low and medium income housing development in Fort Worth, Texas

The focus of this project is on redesigning the home for low-income families in Fort Worth, Texas. Architects can make the individual family home both more inviting and useful by facilitating the positive interaction of neighbors and enhancing the image residents have of themselves. These psychological factors can be controlled through the layout of individual dwellings, their grouping around collective areas, their positioning relative to streets, and the symbolic meaning of a dwelling's external form. A pattern language has been developed to organize all aspects of the design and provide a guide for the actual design process. All elements of the home have been analyzed and are broken up into detail. Patterns for a day care center and a community center have also been created. These patterns are essential to a good housing project but are not the focus. Along with planning for a day care center and a community center, this program will present plans and guidelines for management and maintenance organizations.

Through careful assembly and design of architectural elements, a more inviting home can be created. This program shows that architects can play a significant role in improving the lives of millions of low and moderate income Americans.