This manufactured “camp” is intended for use by four single male workers who come to Pennsylvania to pick apples, peaches, and cherries from August through October. Migrancy is not assumed to be negative; many workers come to make some income through hard work, and then return home. Mobility is intentionally expressed to convey this aspect and value or the lifestyle.
Each unit is designed for north-south orientation, as are most rows of apple trees. Multiple units can be arranged in a “shotgun house” manner, creating a side yard off the porch to the east, which acts as a mudroom and has a pesticides sink. The unit is 650 square feet, is 13’-6,” a dimension which allows for road travel as well as effective natural cooling. Hinged shutters, like those of Pennsylvania tobacco barns, face west and create privacy. They can provide shade in hotter months, can slide open for heat gain during cooler months, and they can be shut down and latched during the off-season.
The benefit of manufactured housing is in its efficiency of production. It was important in the design to consider constraints of the manufacturing industry so Design Corps worked with the manufacturers to capitalize on industry strengths without compromising architectural aesthetic.
Funding for this project came from a public/private partnership. HOME funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development covered 70% of construction and services costs. Growers provided the remaining 30% of costs, plus land for the project. The manufacturer was Penn Lyon Homes. Design Corps will continue to submit applications for HOME funds as long as growers express a need for this housing.
