Journal Entry #6 - Concept Design Showcase Reflections
While we were originally planning to host our first concept design showcase and open house in the garden patio of the Sierra Madre Women’s Club, Mother Nature had other plans. In classic Los Angeles fashion it rained on the one day we hoped it wouldn’t... but don’t get us wrong - we need the rain so we can’t complain!
Despite the wet weather and a very cozy indoor setup, our community truly showed up for the open house. We loved meeting so many residents and hearing your comments, feedback, hopes, and dreams for the rebuilding effort in Altadena and Pasadena.
Over the past month, we issued a call to architects and designers to submit concept designs for Catalog homes based on specific parameters—square footage, bed/bath count, architectural style, and hypothetical lot size. We were able to display just over 30 of these initial concepts for homeowners to review and respond to. Many of the designers and architects were also in attendance to answer questions about their designs.
While TFCF will not be offering custom architectural services, this process has always been envisioned as a collective design effort, with the community’s voice at the forefront. It was important for us to showcase these initial concepts and gather meaningful input to help shape the future framework of the Catalog.
One of the most consistent pieces of feedback we received was the need for smaller footprint homes in the 800–1,000 sq ft range, as well as designs suited for lot widths closer to 40 feet. Over the next several weeks, we’ll be working to develop more options that respond to these needs.
Our next steps:
We’re currently reviewing all comments and feedback and using that input to refine the first Catalog home designs. More information about the initial Catalog collection will be released in the coming weeks. If you missed this event, don’t worry—we’re planning to host a similar event on June 29th at St. Bede’s Church in La Cañada Flintridge.
If you are an architect or designer who has contributed a concept, we’ll be sharing feedback and next steps with you shortly.
If you are an architect or designer interested in contributing, we are accepting concept design submissions on a rolling basis. If you’d like to get involved, please reach out to us at info@foothillcatalog.org!
More updates to come. In the meantime, check out our website for the latest on our timeline, process, and a selection of concept designs on display.
Also, check out this Pasadena Star News Article about the event for more information!
