Casa Poquito
A home that changes lives
Words by Taylor Dutch Photos by Eric Morales
“Everyone should have access to good design,” says Mike Smith, senior architect at BOKA Powell. That statement will ring true with the inspiring effort being put forth by several of Austin’s top builders and architects who are creating a transformative home project at Community First! Village.
Casa Poquito is a home project led by a team consisting of BOKA Powell, Smith Kennedy Architects, Bautex Systems, and SRD Builder who are all donating time and materials for a micro-home that will benefit the residents of a life-changing community.
The momentum of giving back started with Mobile Loaves & Fishes, an organization that has served the homeless community in Central Texas for nearly two decades. In 2014, the Community First! Village broke ground and has since been built into a 27-acre development that provides affordable, permanent housing and a supportive community for the disabled and those experiencing chronic homelessness in the Austin area. In addition to housing options, residents also have access to a community garden, an on-site medical facility, walking trails, an outdoor movie theater, community market, and other amenities.
Contributing to this development through Casa Poquito has been a unique and fulfilling project for Smith and his fellow team members. “It’s been a really rewarding experience and process in every aspect,” says Smith. “I mean, Community First! Village is an amazing organization. To meet the people who live out there and talk to them, you see so much joy in being able to have their own place. It’s a great feeling to know that you had some small part in that. That’s the biggest reward.”
The design process of Casa Poquito is unlike any other development that the team of builders and architects has done before. With 144 to 180 square feet to work with, the focus of the home’s design was to provide a small space that not only felt larger but also gave a sense of belonging and community to the resident. As Smith explains, “to achieve that goal, the team adhered to the fundamental components of domestic architecture: threshold, hearth, and roof.”
Not only will Casa Poquito provide a shelter for residents, but the home will also contribute to a larger, innovative development to assist and empower those affected by homelessness. Community First! Village also provides micro-enterprise opportunities which enable residents to develop new skills and earn an income.
“[Community First! Village] is such an amazing concept with so many layers. Between the affordability, and also the social aspect, they’re dealing with these conditions in a more compassionate way,” explains Eddie Thomas, owner of SRD Builder.
The team who is working together to build Casa Poquito is currently fundraising to complete the home project. As of mid-
September, they had reached 58% of their $25,000 goal. Smith and Thomas agree that the donations received as well as the years of work done to help those in need by Community First! Village are both a testament to the generosity of Austinites.
“Community First! Village being a part of Austin and being a model for the rest of the nation and maybe even the rest of the world, to me, is a badge of honor,” Smith says. “For me, [Casa Poquito] will be one of the high points of my career.”
Design Elements
An innovative design element being implemented into the Casa Poquito project is the Bautex Wall System, which provides continuous insulation with air and moisture protection to the structure of the home.
Visit the Casa Poquito fundraising page to donate
Contact
Community First! Village, 9301 Hog Eye Road
mlf.org
srdbuilder.com
@srd_builder
bokapowell.com
cargocollective.com/TGFT
