Dear AIA Seattle Board Members,

In nearly every modern society, the single family home has become a commodity only afforded by the middle and upper class population. In Seattle, only 37% of low income households own rather than rent their housing.[2] As Seattle continues to rapidly grow, we understand considerably more about the circumstances controlling housing affordability, and the resultant socio-economic and community impacts. These impacts are so severe, that as of January 27, 2017, there are over 11,000 people in King County without any type of home to sleep in.[3]

We, the undersigned, implore the AIA Seattle board to reconcile and correct the discrepancy between the values tasked to us as members of the AIA and the acting praxis of the AIA award systems. The outlined facts herein define a logic as to why the award and recognition of single family homes is specifically problematic and contradictory to the AIA Code of Ethics and AIA Public Policy Directory.

The AIA 2017 Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct states within CANON I, General Obligations, that, “Members should … thoughtfully consider the social and environmental impact of their professional activities.” In addition, CANON II, Obligations to the Public, states that, “Members should … promote and serve the public interest in their personal and professional activities.” Our thoughtful consideration of the professional activities of architects has led us to understand that:

1. Nationally, the average single family home has increased in size by 900ft2 from 1973 (1,715ft2) to 2015 (2,615ft2)[4]. Meanwhile, the average population per household has decreased by 0.44 persons from 1973 (3.01 persons) to 2003 (2.57 persons).[5] In this respect, single family homes have evolved to mechanically condition 1,107ft2 of space per occupant as of 2016, up from 570ft2 per person in 1973. The increase of square-footage per occupant within single family homes suggests their existence within the urban domain is unsustainable. This is evinced in the demolition of single family homes throughout the Seattle area in favor of multistory apartment buildings. This pattern is specifically declared within the AIA Public Policy Directory, which states “The AIA recognizes that current planning, design, construction, and real estate practices contribute to patterns of resource consumption that will inhibit the sustainable future of the Earth.” Design awards for single family homes act to directly subvert the intentions of the AIA for a sustainable built environment.
2. The median sale price of a single family home within King County is $700,000[6]. Using a Wells Fargo, 30 year, fixed jumbo mortgage with a rate of 4.53%, the monthly payment for a loan of this amount would be $4,145, equating to a total cost of $49,740 per year. This price tag on the median home in King County is above median income for Black and Hispanic populations.[7] Thus, ownership of the single family home becomes largely inaccessible to these minority groups.
3. This is corroborated at the national level as well. Home ownership is significantly disproportionate between ethnicities.[8] As of 2016, the percentage of home ownership among ethnic populations was as follows:
   1. 71.9% Non-Hispanic White
   2. 55.4% Asian or Native Pacific Islander
   3. 47.6% American Indian or Alaskan Native
   4. 46.0% Hispanic or Latino
   5. 41.6% Black
4. Home ownership appears to be inaccessible to the majority of Native, Black and Hispanic people in the United States. Our understanding is that the promotion and award of design, inaccessible to such a significant subset of our minority populations is not in promotion or service of the public, thus conflicting with AIA Code of Ethics, CANON II.
5. Wealth gained from home equity disproportionately favors the Non-Hispanic White population. This wealth discrepancy is seen in US Census data of net worth, where the median net worth of a Non-Hispanic White individual ($110,500) is 17 times greater than that of a Black individual ($6,314).[9] This inequity leads to higher rates of violent crime.[10] A study by the United Nations found that “income inequality was strongly linked with homicide rates.”[11] Therefore, the celebration of projects which exist as the physical records of wealth disparity publicly aligns the values of the AIA with those of a predominately wealthy and Non-Hispanic White population.

When awarding single family homes, the AIA is commending a product which is disproportionately owned by a specific racial group, utilized by private persons, is the physical artifact of wealth inequity, and contributes to unsustainable building practices. This is in direct conflict with the stated intentions and values of the AIA.

Therefore, we advocate for the discontinuation of the “AIA Home of Distinction” award and advocate for detached single family homes to be made ineligible for all AIA Awards henceforth. Instead, we implore the AIA to award and highlight architectural projects which act to provide “sustainable housing within the means of all Americans.”[12]

With Regards,

[2] Seattle Planning Commission. Housing Seattle. Winter 2011.

[3] Count Us In 2017. Seattle/King County Homeless Management Information System.

[4] 2015 US Census Median and Average Square Feet of Floor Area in New Single-Family Houses Completed.

[5] Table HH-6. Average Population Per Household and Family: 1940 to Present. U.S. Bureau of the Census Internet release date: September 15, 2004

[6] Rosenberg, Mike. “Seattle’s median home price hits record: $700,000, double 5 years ago.” Seattle Times, April 6, 2017. http://www.seattletimes.com/business/real-estate/seattle-home-prices-hit-700000-for-first-time-after-doubling-in-five-years/ .

[7] Income and Earnings Summary Measures by Selected Characteristics: 2014 and 2015 Table 1.U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2015 and 2016 Annual Social and Economic Supplements.

[8] Table 22. Homeownership Rates by Race and Ethnicity of Householder: 1994 to 2016. U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey/Housing Vacancy Survey, February 21, 2017.

[9] Table 1. Median Value of Assets for Households, by Type of Asset Owned and Selected Characteristics: 2011 US Census.

[10] Fajnzylber P, Lederman D, Loayza N. Inequality and violent crime. Washington, DC, World Bank, 1999

[11] Krug EG et al., eds. World report on violence and health. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2002 pg 37.

[12] AIA. “Public Policy Directory.” April 2017.