AARP and AIAS Announce 2008 "House of Freedom" National Student Design Competition Winners

AARP and the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) announce the winners of the Ethel Percy Andrus House of Freedom Design Competition. The program challenged students to learn about universal design and designing for an aging population while creating a single-family home. Total prize money is $7,225, including $2,500 for the winning design.

The objectives of this competition included:
• researching, responding to and highlighting the unique aspects of designing a home that allows a person to age in place with dignity
• building knowledge about materials, products and installation related to universal design and design for aging
• designing a home that accommodates the needs of a family regardless of age and ability

The competition received entries from high schools student through graduate level architecture and design students, coming from as far away as Hawaii and France. Teams from over 40 schools participated in the program.

Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, a retired high school principal, founded AARP in 1958. Since its inception, AARP has grown and changed dramatically in response to societal changes, while remaining true to its founding principles:
• To promote independence, dignity and purpose for older persons.
• To enhance the quality of life for older persons.
• To encourage older people "To serve, not to be served."

In 1960, Dr. Andrus supervised the creation of the “Freedom Home” in Washington, D.C. She was a pioneer in adapting architectural details used in the “Freedom Home” to the needs of the aging population. This concept would later come to be known as “Universal Design.” Universal design is the design of products and environments that are usable by all people regardless of age or ability. It includes home design features and products that make a home safer and more comfortable for all residents, even when their needs and abilities change.

AARP, in association with the Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Washington, D.C., built a full-scale model of the Freedom Home in Washington, D.C. for the 1961 White House Conference on Aging. Freedom Home was viewed by many, including President Dwight Eisenhower. To honor Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus’s vision as exemplified by the Freedom Home and in recognition of the AARP’s 50th Anniversary in 2008, AARP and the AIAS are pleased to present the House of Freedom design competition winners.

The prizes were awarded to:
Monique Reid – Andrews University
First Prize ($2500)

The judges felt that this project was the most thought out, from the urban setting to the clear presentation. With its sustainable aesthetics, this entry honed in on all of the appropriate ideas of aging in place, and excelled in reaching all of the competition criteria. The house resolved the conflicts between traditionally built homes and universal design principals.

See her award-winning design online at http://assets.aarp.org/www.aarp.org_/cs/misc/aiaswinningboards.pdf.

Jessica Drake and Ashley Snodgrass – University of Southern California
Second Prize ($1500)

The judges were impressed by how well connected this project was to the earth. The well thought out story puts people in the house showing how the house met the criteria. The adaptability of the building was impressive as well.

Christine Sanchez – University of South Florida
Third Place ($750)

The judges appreciated the interesting envelope around the house, given the inventive and playful exterior. The opportunity for multiple solar panels contributed to the sustainable nature of the house. The jury enjoyed that you could “wheel” around the entire property.

The AIAS chapter at each school also receives a cash prize.

The jury awarded Honorable Mentions ($500) to the following:
Omar Munante, Martha Maria Henkle, Nick Jaworsky and Hector Hernandez – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Rachel Islin – Virginia Tech; and
Jorge E. Trevino, Jr. and Josephine Fitzgibbons – University of Texas at Arlington.

The award-winning entries were displayed at the 2008 AIA Convention and Design Exposition in Boston, May 15-17, and will be on display at AARP’s 50th Anniversary Life@50+ Member Event and Expo in Washington, D.C., September 4-6. The winning projects will be published in the Fall 2008 issue of Crit, Journal of the AIAS.