See the Work

Hopi Elder Housing Prototypes

An Ecological, Affordable Home Prototype

“I took the planner, surveyor and engineer from my office to see [the Hopi straw-bale home]. We all said, ‘I want one, too.’ We do have a housing problem here. We need homes, and this is something that could help.”

— Royce Jenkins, Economic Development Director, Hopi Tribe

A part of Red Feather’s Elder Housing Initiative, this project is the first replicable-model, straw bale home constructed on the Hopi Reservation. Straw bale construction, especially when built with a frost-protected shallow foundation, is an affordable and energy-efficient housing solution. Together with other prototype homes on the Hopi Nation, the house demonstrates that straw bale construction is an affordable and energy-efficient housing solution.

Constructed with community involvement and participatory design coordination by Rose Fellow Nathaniel Corum, the homes are a vehicle for transferring straw bale construction skills to tribal members. In addition, these homeowner-informed, culturally appropriate designs demonstrate the use of low-impact (on both health and environment) products, passive solar and radiant heating systems, post-agricultural building materials, rainwater collection, and barrier-free design.

Hopi Elder Housing Prototypes on Homes Across America »

Project Summary

Location:
Hotevilla, Arizona
Hopi Nation (Third Mesa)
Program Scope
2 affordable home ownership units
Project Status
Completed, April 2005
Location:
Hotevilla, Arizona
Hopi Nation (Third Mesa)
Project Scope
5 acres gross site area
New construction
2,640 sq ft gross project area
Program Scope
2 affordable home ownership units
Residential Unit Profile

23 BR1,200-1,400 sq ft
Cost
79,200Hard (construction)
5,000Soft (all other)
84,200TOTAL
Major Funders
Red Feather Development Group
Enterprise Community Partners
Oprah's Angel Network
The Oak Hill Fund
Individual Donors
Project Status
Completed, April 2005

Enterprise Community Partners