Emergency housing leaders Kadre Architects have unveiled their latest experimental, multi-unit housing community located in East Compton, California. Funded by the state’s Project Homekey program (which buys up dilapidated motel stock to transform into permanent or semi-permanent housing for homeless residents), this 3 story complex will introduce 40 new units of permanent housing to the community. Kadre Architects deployed their flair for color and low-cost, high-impact interventions to transform the unremarkable, crime-ridden and derelict structure into a welcoming community, oriented around an expansive private park. This housing complex is the latest in a prolific run of work for the AIA LA Emerging Practice Award-Winning firm, as they add to the 2000+ beds they have built for the region’s most vulnerable residents since launching in 2022.
What struck the architects when first visiting this site was a desperate need for community or gathering space on the grounds. Inefficient parking and honorifically-positioned trash containers were situated at the heart of the property, subjecting tenants to noise, stench and visual clutter on a daily basis. Moreover, the City of Compton is a park desert, so a safe and accessible green space would be critical for the overall wellbeing of future residents. The architects reclaimed the vast concrete parking lot and transformed it into a unifying central park and gathering space. Inspired by the aerial photography of amusement park slides by Alex McLean, curved paths meander across the courtyard, and visually integrate with the front doors of the units. Trees, grasses and colorful wildflowers are interspersed throughout, juxtaposed with the brightly painted hardscape and pathways to feed life into the space. The park features built-in seating, a dog park, play mound, rain gardens to cleanse the soil and a monumentally scaled shade structure that completes the courtyard as well as combatting the heat island effect. As a place for the community to connect, it became a focal point for the architects because of its centrality and connection to each unit.
The team modified the old building’s facades by removing visual clutter and providing a new foreground through a grid of custom perforated metal panels. These panels help create arcade-like walkways that criss-cross the exterior of the property at each level, creating a liminal space between private dwellings and the communal courtyard below. When designing for a population that has experienced trauma, thought has to be given to how residents will most comfortably interact with communal spaces, and with their fellow neighbors. This public-private space allows for concealed participation in community life and eases integration. In addition, the panels act as a brise-soleil and animate the walkways with a constant play of light and shadow. Each unit was upgraded to include a kitchenette, mid-size refrigerator and custom, built-in closets. The old lobby has been converted into offices and a space for supportive services. These offices are clad in translucent poly-carbonate panels which allow natural light to penetrate through the office zone and illuminate double loaded corridors. The panels also provide a silhouetted background which enliven the halls while providing visual privacy for case management meetings.
"Even though we work on a number of hotel renovations, each project has its own idiosyncrasies based on its location, site conditions and intended demographic,” says Nerin Kadribegovic, Founder and Principal of Kadre Architects. “We custom tailor each design to fit those idiosyncrasies. This community will be home to a mix of adults and families, so we needed to strike a balance between serious and playful feel for the place. The site had an inefficient, downright dreadful parking lot which was ripe to leverage for a courtyard-driven campus full of playful and meditative moments. Creating an honest sense of place is paramount in our work, as we hope that the resulting recuperative feeling will serve residents on their journey to recovery and stability."
As a signatory of AIA2030 Commitment, Kadre Architects spends significant design capital towards making its
housing communities energy neutral and setting a rigorous template for future development. Over 300 ft of trenching through the city was required to access adequate power and convert the community to be fully electric, including electric heat pumps, magnetic induction stoves and a massive solar array that will cover all of the community’s energy needs. In addition, the new perforated shade facade on the exterior of both structures provides passive cooling in front of the units.
Kadre Architects is a driver and catalyst in design leadership for mission-driven organizations and social causes. Founded by veteran architect Nerin Kadribegovic in 2022, the firm is driven by his relentless drive, heightened creative thinking and an indomitable forte for dissolving complex obstacles to effect social and humanitarian change. The firm is emerging as a leader in architectural innovation for tackling California’s housing crisis and as a nucleus for interdisciplinary collaborations focused on solving critical issues facing metropolitan urban centers around the world; cities gripped by displaced populations and both environmental and socio-economic crises. Kadribegovic and his team’s strength in navigating markedly restrictive design challenges, especially where economy is paramount, has resulted in unconventional and award-winning solutions that have directly impacted the lives of 1000s of vulnerable residents. The firm has established a functional prototype that includes interiors, landscaping, recreational spaces, color and aesthetic interest with a focus on creating a sense of place in each community. Their work provides a blueprint for other global cities on how to create complete communities, ones that cater to all residents, not only those at the top of the social ladder.
Hub City Heights in Compton, CA opens to residents in January 2026
