Sustainable Affordable Housing, Residence 6

Nov. 25, 2019

Drachman Design Build Coalition

Overview
Drachman Design-Build Coalition (DDBC) Residence 6 is a three-bedroom, two-bath residence of 1200 square feet in area.
Who
Drachman Design Build Coalition
What
Sustainable Affordable Housing, Residence 6
Where
Tucson, Arizona
When
May 2012
Categories
Drachman Design-Build Coalition (DDBC) Residence 6 is a three-bedroom, two-bath residence of 1200 square feet in area. It was designed and constructed by School of Architecture faculty Mary Hardin and Bil Taylor and students in 2011-2012.

Drachman Design Build Coalition Residence 6 Sustainable Affordable Housing

DDBC Residence 6 Entry

Drachman Design-Build Coalition (DDBC) Residence 6 is a three-bedroom, two-bath residence of 1200 square feet in area. It was designed and constructed by School of Architecture faculty Mary Hardin and Bil Taylor and students in 2011-2012. It is owned and occupied by a family of two.

The main building features include rammed earth walls that serve as thermal masses to control indoor comfort, two courtyards that allow natural light and ventilation to reach all habitable spaces, insulated framed walls sheathed with fiber cement panels or galvanized metal panels, and cisterns for harvesting and storage of roof water runoff.

The DDBC received grants from both the City of Tucson and Pima County to fund the design and construction of this project. The DDBC team utilized a student design-build studio in the School of Architecture to research energy and water conservation designs for the build. 

Learn more about Mary Hardin and her work.

Contacts

Mary Hardin
mchardin@email.arizona.edu
(520) 621-6751

  

Subscribe to The Studio

Sign up for CAPLA's monthly e-newsletter to get the latest news and events, insights from faculty and leadership, profiles of students and alumni and more.

Subscribe Now

Latest CAPLA News, Projects and Profiles

Jackie Hogan Headshot

Research-Based Approach to Architecture: Jackie Hogan M.Arch + MS.Arch ‘25

Jackie Hogan (’25 M.Arch + MS.Arch) is a dual-degree graduate of CAPLA whose work bridges architectural practice and research-driven design. Drawn to architectural history, theory and ethics, she pursued the M.Arch + MS.Arch dual degree to explore how research can shape meaningful design decisions. During her time at CAPLA, she engaged in community-centered design through Laura Carr’s studio working with the Tuba City community and completed a thesis examining architecture’s role in disaster relief and climate-related emergencies. Now working at Line + Space, Hogan brings an evidence-based approach to projects, applying research to create thoughtful spaces that connect people, culture and the environment.

Block Up

CAPLA Lecturer and Alumni Win 2025 AIA Arizona Ideas Competition

Senior Lecturer in Architecture Oscar Lopez and three CAPLA alumni won first place in the 2025 AIA Arizona Ideas Competition for their proposal “BLOCK UP.” The project reimagines the urban tower as a vertical civic framework for Phoenix, integrating public space, housing and climate-responsive design into a shared, adaptable structure. Developed through close collaboration between Lopez and alumni Sal Arellano, Trevor Watson and Cameron Noble, the proposal explores how density can expand community and access beyond the street level, highlighting CAPLA’s impact on forward-thinking, civic-minded design in Arizona.

The white facade of Mission San Xavier del Bac is seen against a clear blue sky. A paved path leading to the mission passes through an earthen wall fronted by cactus and other desert plants.

Rehabilitation of the Retablo Facade at San Xavier del Bac | Lecture by Starr Herr-Cardillo

Learn about ongoing work to preserve decorative finishes and restore missing and damaged elements of the retablo facade of Mission San Xavier del Bac. This work is supported by the Semiquincentennial Grant Program, administered by the National Park Service.

See More