Posted on August 14, 2025
Post categories: Graduate High Performance Building Housing Research
THE UNDER COVER
Students: Eleanor Lewis
Studio: ARCH 503 — Jack Chaffin — Autumn 2023
Location: Seattle, Washington
Project Description
The Under Cover project reimagines urban living by transforming the typical apartment block into a network of smaller, connected communities. Instead of one monolithic structure, the building is divided into three distinct clusters, each designed to feel intimate, approachable, and socially engaging. This scaled-down approach helps residents feel more connected to their immediate neighbors, while still being part of a larger shared environment.
Street Elevation and Program.
Each cluster contains its own dining hall and lounge, creating natural gathering points for shared meals, casual conversations, and collaborative activities. These communal spaces encourage social bonds and mutual support among residents, making the building more than just a place to live—it becomes a place to belong. Connecting these clusters are open-air streets that bring in light, fresh air, and moments of chance encounter.
Areal View and Program Hierarchy.
At street level, the design opens up to the surrounding neighborhood, inviting the public into the ground floor spaces and blurring the boundary between building and community. By combining smaller-scale architecture with intentional social spaces, The Under Cover offers a blueprint for urban housing that is both community-driven and welcoming to all.
Section.
Images from The Under Cover.
Explore Images.