In the small town of Blacksburg where the ground plane is the only plane designed as habitable, The Stackhouse emphasizes roof gardens as attractive and usable space in urban areas with low density. Building on the idea of vertically stacking and receding artificial ground planes, The Stackhouse simulates an appearance similar to that of a mountain village.

Supported by four large steel trusses, the ground plane of the building footprint is suspended and thickened to host a floor of rentable office spaces one level above ground.

Affordable housing units are stacked on top of the artificial ground. Attached to a rack structure and arranged in a receding formation, the housing units allow for evenly distributed gardens space throughout the levels of the residences. The units themselves are shifted horizontally and colored based on function to add a character of individuality among the parts of the high rise.

The elevated, artificial ground plane allows for a split between the lower and upper environments, where the lower, commercial level is connected to the adjacent street and the upper levels are separated from immediate public connection.

The programmatic elements are designed in sizes and shapes that fits to the overall structure of the building. The elements are thereafter proportionally distributed and organized across the upper levels.

Modular Units

Each element is designed to fulfill it's individual needs as well as the organizing principals of the overall structure. This type of modular design allows for a swift and flexible workflow that can quickly adapt to design iterations.