Serenity
Village
Sector
Public
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
Year
2025
Design Team
Thiago Constantino Costa
Project Type
Bachelor Project
A. Serenity Village is a modular housing community designed for adults 55 and older who are experiencing homelessness in Phoenix. The project focuses on creating a safe and supportive place where residents can rest, feel welcomed, and rebuild stability. The design responds to the extreme desert climate and the need for fast, flexible shelter solutions. The site is organized around shaded paths, small green areas, and individual units that give residents privacy, comfort, and a sense of control over their own space. Every move in the design aims to make daily life easier and more dignified.
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B. The modular system is the core of the project. Standard 8 by 4 foot panels form the floor, wall, and roof components, which allows the units to be assembled quickly, moved, or reconfigured whenever needed.
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Materials were chosen for durability, hygiene, and comfort. Metal panels protect the buildings, smooth interior surfaces are easy to clean, and proper insulation helps reduce heat. Openings, porches, and shading elements bring in soft light and ventilation while giving each shelter a small transition space that feels calm and personal.
C. The design uses simple and effective strategies for the desert climate. Shaded walkways, trees, cross ventilation, and standing seam metal roofs help reduce heat and create cooler microclimates. The layout of the campus follows a clear and accessible logic. Clinics are placed near the entrance, the day area sits at the center, and classrooms, offices, and support spaces are arranged to shorten daily walking distances.
The housing units form small clusters that encourage community while still offering privacy. Together, these decisions make Serenity Village more than a temporary shelter. It becomes a place where people can feel supported, grounded, and part of a community again.
