WINNERS OF THE CDQS DESIGN COMPETITION:

    1st place, College of Architecture, UNC Charlotte, "Casas del Sol"    (presentation board)

    2nd place, UNM, Archuitecto Descalzo, "Las Casas de Vado"

    3rd place, Texas A&M, Echo Team, "Natural Notion"                           (presentation board)
 

Design Competition

The Housing Authority of the City of Las Cruces/Doña Ana County Housing Authority (HACLC/DACHA) and its non-profit partner, the New Mexico Housing Corporation (NMHC) have purchased approximately 11.2 acres of land in the Vado/Del Cerro community to construct 21 affordable all-electric homes using sustainable concepts such as, but not limited to, green building techniques, alternative building materials, and energy and water conservation strategies.  Casas del Quinto Sol is unique because it will provide a real-world, hands-on learning experience for the participants while producing viable, replicable, and quality affordable homes in rural and colonia communities.  Casas del Quinto Sol will launch the transformation of the housing and living conditions of colonia and rural communities whose housing stock is, to a large extent substandard.

The Colonias Partners are launching a design competition among universities and community colleges with the goal of designing superior, original, and non-traditional affordable homes in this rural community. The design competition is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2006.  Award announcements will be made at the New Mexico Governor's Housing Summit in November 2006.  Actual construction is targeted to commence in early 2007.  The competition will include multi-disciplinary teams from the universities and community colleges comprised of students with faculty sponsorship.

Upon completion, the 11-acre subdivision will include 21 all-electric, sustainable homes, a community park, playground, and site amenities. This approach will result in the construction of cutting edge affordable housing that will produce models of excellence.  The outcome will provide energy efficient and structurally sound homes for colonia and rural residents and spur development for rural communities and housing stakeholders to replicate the effort in rural communities throughout the area.