15-Minute Seattle: Designing for Dignity
Elizabeth Mahan, the winner of the 2018-2019 IIDA (International Interior Design Association) Northern Pacific Chapter’s Spencer de Mille Traveling Fellowship, presents her research on the impact of design on homelessness abroad.
Throughout the spring of 2019, Elizabeth traveled from Seattle to Dallas, Helsinki, Vienna, and Zurich to learn more about successful programs transitioning people from homelessness into permanent housing. Specifically, her work explores how design choices impact the housing retention rates of formerly homeless individuals and families and supports the restoration of their dignity.
For the second half of the session, Elizabeth will lead the audience in small group discussions to explore how we might rewrite Seattle’s narrative on housing and think about our social responsibility. How can we maximize our impact when we design and locate homes for those who are unsheltered? How can we provide economic integration across housing developments so that we deliver equal access to valuable community amenities? What role does design play in shifting the public mindset about homelessness and prompting greater engagement to solve this issue?
Using examples from U.S. and European cities, this focus on low-income housing in the 15-minute city will ask participants to think deeply about how we might lift up everyone in our community, together, by providing all of our neighbors with the benefits and access we all need to thrive.
This event is part of AIA Seattle’s 15-Minute Seattle: Creating Livable Places for All series.
DESIGNING FOR DIGNITY: RETHINKING OUR ROLE IN SOLVING SEATTLE’s HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING CRISIS
Thursday, June 17 | 4:00 – 5:30 pm PT | Online
ABOUT ELIZABETH
Elizabeth Mahan, Interior Design & Architecture Associate, Ankrom Moison Architects | Elizabeth Mahan is an Interior Design & Architecture Associate at Ankrom Moisan Architects in Seattle. She currently works in the Healthcare sector and is focused on creating human centered healing environments. As a part of the IIDA Northern Pacific Chapter she led community outreach projects for the YWCA Domestic Violence Women’s Shelter and the BRIDGE Mary’s Place Women’s Day Center redesign project, both located in downtown Seattle. She believes we have the opportunity to transform lives through the built environment, playing a pivotal role in creating a more just community. Elizabeth has her NCIDQ certification and is currently taking her AREs.
THEMES + RESOURCES
Key themes:
- Travel research ranging from individual projects to city-wide impacts, from Dallas, TX to cities across northern Europe.
- An exploration of how architecture and design can help in the recovery of those who have experienced homelessness and lead to more successful outcomes.
- A deeper look at how 15 minute-city concepts play a role in successful low-income housing solutions.
Resources:
Questions?
Contact Kirsten Smith, Manager of Policy and Advocacy at AIA Seattle
