Belmont Village_Final Book_Rutvik Rao

(RE)VISIONING BELMONT VILLAGE
FALL 2015
INSTRUCTORS:
Jack Cochran
Carl Koepcke
STUDENTS:
Maridalia De Mota Trinidad
Trenten Kelley
Stephen Lea
Thara Messeroux
Annika Nilsson Ripps
Rutvik Rao
CLIENT: Metro West Collaborative Development
REPRESENTATIVE: Jennifer Van Campen
WEBSITE: www.metrowestcd.org
Constructed in 1949, Belmont Village has provided safe, and affordable housing for families and veterans for more
than a half century. However, as is common with many of the housing authority developments built in mid-century, the 100-
unit public housing development is in dire need of modernization and a thoughtful plan for its enduring future.
PROJECT OVERVIEW:

3
Introduction 03
Existing Condition Analysis 05
Existing Site 06
Existing Buildings 10
Challenges & Opportunities 14
Redesign Solutions 17
Minimal Renovation 18
Intermediate Renovation 24
Complete Redesign 26
Conclusion 32
We worked to identify the opportunities
and solutions for improving the Belmont
Village Apartments.
ANALYSIS
Visiting the site, studying the existing
condition, and gathering critical and
useful information, resulted in helping
us understand the unique challenges and
opportunities this project presents.
REDESIGN
We propose several levels of minimal and
intermediate renovations to the existing
buildings, as well as a complete redesign
to the site. This will give the client many
options when researching financing and
logistic planning for this project.
MISSION
CONTENTS

76
The site sits in a residential part of
Belmont. While sited in a Boston suburb
with many modes of transportation
available, this site is largely isolated to
those without cars. The train station and
bus stops are about a 10 minute walk. The
bike path is currently on the other side of
the train tracks, making it significantly
harder to access.
With many families in need of these
subsidized housing units, 100 resident
families and over 1000 families on the
wait-list, providing financially and
geographically accessible connections to
the greater Boston community becomes
crucial for the residents of Belmont Village.
EXISTING SITE
0’ 500’ 0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
Elderly/Standard Non-elderly/Standard 2 Bedroom/Standard 3 Bedroom/Standard
BELMONT VILLAGE ACTIVE WAITING
LIST (UNITS) AS OF 09/25/2015
AutomobileRoad
LocalBusRoute/Stop
BicycleLane
Bike&PedPath
(Current/Potential)
CommuterRail
WalkingPath
GeneralResidence
SingleFamilyResidence
Commercial
Institutional
PublicSchool
Park/Recreation
PublicLibrary
GroceryStore
approx. 10
minute walk

98
EXISTING
CONDITIONS
The current conditions are consistent
with that of a relatively well maintained
community that is 73 years old.
The exterior of the buildings demonstrate
some damage to the building envelope
along with many updates, including vinyl
siding and newer windows.
We observed several places were the
sidewalks, walkways, and exterior stairs
show wear and damage, especially at
moments where different materials meet.
We also observed a fair amount of growth,
believed to be algae, on the exterior of the
buildings (roof and siding). This was seen
more on the shady side of the site.
Loose/detached handrail
Damaged stairway
Siding Damage
Algae/Growth
Rust
Discoloration
Broken window
Other
OBSERVED CONDITIONS

1110
There are two types of buildings in this
community. Both types contain four units,
two 2-bedroom units and two 3-bedroom
units. The layout and amenities are largely
the same in both styles. The main differ-
ence being roof lines and overall footprint.
EXISTING
BUILDINGS
PRODUCEDBYANAUTODESKEDUCATIONALPRODUCT
BUILDING TYPE A
The first style, type A, is a colonial style
with the 2-bedroom units protruding from
the exterior of the building. The roof line
is gabled, without any dormers.
BUILDING TYPE B
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
The second style, type B, is a colonial style
with the 2-bedroom units aligned with the
main central structure. The main structure
has a hip roof, while the lateral units have
gabled roofs with dormers.
All units, in both buildings, have one
bathroom, a kitchen with a laundry washer
hook-up, refrigerator and smaller than
standard stove, as well as a basement
storage unit with dryer hook up.

1312
INTERIOR SPACES
2-BEDROOM UNIT
INTERIOR SPACES
3-BEDROOM UNIT
The 2-bedroom units have a living room,
kitchen, bathroom and 2 bedrooms, all on
one level. Each room is separate, with the
kitchen feeling like a enlarged part of the
back hall. There is no room for a dining
table in any part of the interior.
The 3-bedroom units have a living room,
kitchen, bathroom and 3 bedrooms. The
kitchen and living room are on the first
floor, while the bedrooms and bathroom
are on the second room. This presents
a significant accessibility problem in
all 3-bedroom units. The kitchen in
the 3-bedroom units are slightly larger,
allowing room for a small 2-4 person
dining room table.

1514
1. Small bedrooms
2. Small Bathrooms
3. Small Kitchen without space for a table
4. Washer/Dryer split between floors
5. Empty fields are uninviting for children
and playing
6. Limited unit size.
7. Trash location is dispersed through
outdoor spaces.
8. Outdoor spaces are uninviting and
under utilized.
CHALLENGES AND
OPPORTUNITIES
4. Dryer hook up is in the basement.
3. The kitchens are small, cramped and not consistent with current standards for functional kitchen standards.
2. Bathrooms are small, with a sink, toilet, and full-size tub/shower enclosure.
1. Bedrooms are small with 1 or 2 windows. 5. Yards are open, without shade and privacy. This makes it hard to contain children and create safe play areas.
7. There is no designated trash area. This results in trash barrels being dispersed throughout the site. 8. Outdoor spaces are not inviting or conducive to using the exterior spaces.

1918
Play areaBEFORE AFTER
BEFORE
1. Small bedrooms
2. Small Bathrooms
and playing
outdoor spaces.
under utilized.
MINIMAL REDESIGN
With minimal additions of fences,
plantings, designated trash areas and play
spaces, the existing outdoor spaces are
made inviting and functional.
In addition to those investments,
reworking the paths will both create more
privacy and ownership as well as improve
the maintenance access to open spaces.
SITE REDESIGN
50
75
25

2120
MINIMAL REDESIGN
We have identified ways of making some
small, interior changes to the existing
buildings that would make the units more
functional and consistent with current
needs.
We have also explored how we may add
studio or 1-bedroom apartments in the
basement of the existing buildings. This
would greatly increase the variety of types
of units and overall capacity.
BUILDING RENOVATION
1. Small bedrooms
2. Small Bathrooms
and playing
outdoor spaces.
under utilized.
EXISTING PROPOSED

2322
MINIMAL REDESIGN
In addition to opening the open spaces, we
have identified ways of making the existing
2-bedroom spaces accessible through
ramps, reworking the bathrooms, and
enlarging the bedroom openings.
BUILDING RENOVATION

2524
INTERMEDIATE
REDESIGN
By adding on to the back of the existing
units, we can increase the size and number
of bedrooms on all units.
This proposal also explores the basement
apartment.
These additions would not be made to
every building on site, but the ones that
have the room in the back. By doing this
we can expand up to 8 of the existing 25
buildings.
BUILDING RENOVATION
1. Small bedrooms
2. Small Bathrooms
and playing
outdoor spaces.
under utilized.
EXISTING PROPOSED
66
66
65
3

2726
COMPLETE
REDESIGN
This proposal includes 47 smaller
buildings (2 to 4 units each) and one larger
apartment building. The buildings are
arranged in a more grid like arrangement,
fitting in with the surrounding
neighborhood more.
The common green space is consolidated
and decreased in size, while the private
yard space is increased.
Parking is dispersed throughout the site,
making it easier to park closer to individual
units.
SITE REDESIGN #1
1. Small bedrooms
2. Small Bathrooms
and playing
outdoor spaces.
under utilized.
47
47
6
6
5
3
39
39
6
6
5
3
This proposal includes 39 smaller
buildings (2 to 4 units each) and one larger
apartment building. The larger building
is located farther from the site entrance,
while the smaller buildings, which are
more in keeping with the character of the
neighborhood, are located at the interface
with the surrounding roads.
The common green space is in this design
creates larger consolidated spaces, which
is located along roads. This increases the
accessibility for maintenance.
SITE REDESIGN #2
1. Small bedrooms
2. Small Bathrooms
and playing
outdoor spaces.
under utilized.

2928
COMPLETE
REDESIGN
This proposal is a 4 story (and basement),
21 unit apartment building. This building
would provide a wide variety of accessible,
unit. A central circulation corridor
localizes stairs and an elevator close to the
main entrance.
APT. BUILDING DESIGN #1
1. Small bedrooms
2. Small Bathrooms
and playing
outdoor spaces.
under utilized.
UP
DN
UP
DNDN
1/8" = 1'-0"
1
Level 1
1/8" = 1'-0"
2
Level 2
1/8" = 1'-0"
Level 331/8" = 1'-0"
Level 44
1/8" = 1'-0"
4
Level 0
Three Bedroom
Two Bedrom
One Bedroom
Studio
Storage Space
6
6
7
2
TOTAL UNIT= 21
1/8" = 1'-0"
0
Level 0
1/8" = 1'-0"
5
East
1/8" = 1'-0"
5
East
UP
DNDN
1/8" = 1'-0"
1
Level 1
1/8" = 1'-0"
2
Level 2
Three Bedroom
Two Bedrom
One Bedroom
Studio
Storage Space
6
6
7
2
TOTAL UNIT= 21

3130
COMPLETE
REDESIGN
This proposal is a 2 story, 8 unit building.
A moderate sized building, this would
provide enough accessible units to meet
the 5% requirement.
APT. BUILDING DESIGN #2
1. Small bedrooms
2. Small Bathrooms
and playing
outdoor spaces.
under utilized.

3332
CONCLUSION
We aimed to provide the client with a menu of options for improving the conditions
of Belmont Village. It is our intention and understanding that many of these solutions
presented may explored in concert with each other. By exploring these possibilities, we
hope to create a greater dialogue of possible of finance, logistics, and design.

Belmont Village_Final Book_Rutvik Rao

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