Internet shopping is the epitome of convenience and simplicity. With the click of a mouse, anything and everything can be delivered to your home. You are also guaranteed to find whatever you are looking for on the worldwide web, which is incredibly reassuring.

Yet, an unintended consequence of e-commerce is the closure of many brick-and-mortar stores nationwide. Big box stores like Macy’s, JC Penney, Kmart, and Sears, are closing in record numbers. It seems all of a sudden, the shopping plazas of American retail centers have many vacant spaces. What to do with all this empty square footage? (approximately 105 square million feet in 2017). One Los Angeles based architecture company has an inventive and altruistic idea for these abandoned retail stores. (1)

Re-Purposing Big Box Spaces

KTGY Architecture + Planning’s research and development studio revealed in 2018 their idea to transform empty big-box retail spaces. Named “Re-Habit”, the KTGY concept uses pre-made modular units to create bed pods, bathrooms, dining, gardening, and (ironically?) retail facilities. Optimizing all available space at the stores, the company envisions vast rooftop gardens as well. What is a better use of a big flat roof?

Unfortunately, “Re-habit” is not yet a reality. KTGY is still seeking development partners to share costs and troubleshoot challenges in this building venture. But the company remains optimistic the idea will flourish with the right landlord and capital support. (1, 2)

Meeting America’s Housing Needs

We often don’t think of architects as agents of social change, but the entire goal behind KTGY’s design idea for vacant big box stores is to provide housing to the homeless. Working with the Long Beach Rescue Mission in Southern California, KTGY perfected not only the “Re-habit” structure but improved the foundational idea to house the homeless as well. “Re-habit” is more than just a space to live, and includes a lifestyle plan for residents. For example,  the retail facility within the building can provide genuine job training to residents, and the rooftop gardens can offer fresh ingredients for community meals.

Knowing the average anchor store is approximately 86,000-square-feet, KTGY imagines one store can provide enough space for multiple 20-bed pods, 12-bed pods, and 2-bed pods. This could result in enough shelter for hundreds of people, all in once space. With an estimated 35% of the U.S. homeless population being unsheltered, the “Re-habit” concept could be life-changing for many Americans. Senior designer at KTGY, Marissa Kasdan, explained further to the media, “…the housing affordability crisis and other factors are driving up demand to house and service homeless individuals. Re-Habit offers one adaptive-reuse solution for multiple problems.” (1)

Alternative Housing Solutions

KTGY is not the only company racking their brain to find innovative solutions to housing shortages and homelessness. Several companies have presented pods that can be attached to the unused sidewalls of buildings to create extra housing. Portable structures to optimize vacant lots while integrating designs with the local community have likewise been suggested in Europe to house the homeless. Overall, exciting housing possibilities are rapidly growing among architects. Hopefully, one brilliant idea will grow and fill the need created by the universal homeless crisis. (1)