New L.A. competition targets small lots to address the city's housing crisis

A one-of-its-kind design initiative from the City of Los Angeles and the UCLA AUD’s cityLAB is asking participants to imagine innovative starter home designs that can be developed on small and vacant lots. The Small Lots, Big Impacts challenge is kicking off this week and will result in the approvals of transferable plans to be used by developers in the future. 

The two-stage competition is intended to challenge architects to first develop a "residential imaginary for a postsuburban world where infill, shared amenities, and compact communities present viable alternatives to the detached house." A Request for Qualifications pairing designers and developers will follow in the second phase before they can develop prototypes on 10 or so city-owned lots. 

Submissions are due by April 20th. More detailed information about the competition can be accessed here.