As site development begins at Karwick Village with construction to follow directly, we wanted to share more about the design of our first community. We sat down with designer Molly Hannon to discuss the intentional design that will allow us to fulfill our mission of creating community through affordable housing. As the first cooperative community in La Porte County, it is our goal to show that affordable communities can be functional and beautiful, to benefit the entire community.
A Natural Partnership
Molly Hannon, the exterior designer supporting Karwick Village, was connected to the project through builder Jimmy Pressel, with who collaborates with Molly on other projects. “Jimmy and I work well together,” she explained. This existing relationship made them a natural fit to work together for Karwick Village, particularly given their design aesthetic and skill set.
Design Philosophy: Clean, Fresh, and Warm
We asked Molly about the feeling she wants to create through design at Karwick Village. She emphasized a balance of contemporary and traditional elements. “I think clean and fresh… but also warmth, like a vernacular type feel,” she noted. The design incorporates trim details that would be found on homes in the geographic area dating back to the late 1800s, applied in fresh ways that maintain their inherent warmth and comfort.
The Inspiration: Community-Centered Design
Molly said that her key inspiration for the project comes from Seaside, Florida—a planned community started in the late 1970s and early 1980s by young architects and landscape architects. Molly studied classical architecture and new urbanism planning at Notre Dame under one of Seaside’s original architects.
This philosophy aligns perfectly with Karwick Village’s mission: taking simple, good details and applying them thoughtfully to create textural, warm spaces where “every little house is kind of its own little art piece,” Molly said when asked about the goal of design at Karwick Village.
Breaking the Affordable Housing Mold
One of the most exciting aspects of Karwick Village is how it challenges conventional approaches to affordable housing. Molly’s comments were insightful when asked about the architecture and design of affordable housing in the area. “So much affordable housing really is just super basic in design because it’s meant to be built quickly, maintained easily, and kind of almost like a cookie cutter,” Molly said. “This project kind of breaks the mold a little bit.”
Community-Centered Features
The design includes several elements specifically intended to foster community:
- Front porches on each unit and the community building create spaces for residents to connect with neighbors.
- Native landscaping that’s both beautiful and low maintenance helps to define communal outdoor spaces.
- A thoughtful color palette was designed to stand the test of time rather than follow trends.
- Personalized front door colors from a curated selection, allowing residents to express individuality within a cohesive design.
Elevating Lives Through Design
Molly emphasized how thoughtful design can transform communities and individual experiences. “Great design can affect livelihoods, happiness, community,” she explained. “If it’s done well, you don’t know why it feels that way… but when you drive through certain places and it feels a certain way, it was probably very intentional.”
For Karwick Village residents, this means homes they can be proud of—spaces that feel important, design-forward, and accessible.
Setting a New Standard
Perhaps most importantly, Karwick Village demonstrates that affordable housing doesn’t have to sacrifice aesthetics or quality.
“Everyone deserves to live in really beautiful spaces,” Molly said. By incorporating an additional step of professional design consultation, this project avoids the stigma often attached to affordable housing developments.
Instead of immediately being identified as “low-income housing,” Karwick Village aims to be “a really beautiful place that people are inspired by and really like.”
Looking Forward
As Karwick Village continues to develop, it stands as an example of how thoughtful, intentional design can elevate affordable housing. With stakeholders and donors watching from across the state, this project has the potential to influence future developments and reimagine housing solutions for diverse communities.
Design elements, including specific color palettes and materials, are still in development and will be shared in future updates.
