“It’s heartrending to see people struggling with homelessness, but creating a solution — even a small solution within this statewide crisis — is very gratifying,” says Maria Ogrydziak of Maria Ogrydziak Architecture. Based in Davis, Ogrydziak designed Paul’s Place, an innovative building of tiny residences with a flourishing multi-step program transforming the lives of the unhoused, working with Davis Community Meals and Housing and the City of Davis.

“I strive to design solutions that benefit the building’s residents and the larger community. Paul’s Place, opened in 2023, has achieved that,” says Ogrydziak. “Now, as a board member and design partner for the newly formed Yolo Community Builders, I am creating a permanent supportive housing typology: the vertical tiny home village, which we will bring to more Yolo County communities.”

Author of the book Framing the Valley, Ogrydziak has earned many accolades and held influential positions throughout her 40-year career. She served as the AIA Central Valley president in 2012, founding the celebrated AIACV Experience Architecture event, an annual festival featuring educational discussion panels and notable regional architecture tours. She is one of 11 architects on the statewide AIA California Housing Steering Committee, thanks to her permanent supportive housing expertise.

“Creating vertical tiny home villages for the unhoused which adapt to each community’s sites, needs and identity is exciting,” she says. “Each new project involves collaborations to find the land, find a nonprofit organization to operate the building’s programs, raise money and navigate each community’s approval process.”

With the highly successful Paul’s Place in Davis, Ogrydziak is eager to expand on her experience in other actionable permanent supportive housing solutions throughout Yolo County. “With Yolo Community Builders, I’m excited to design new projects to help improve lives. I believe every community can have its own vertical tiny home village.”