Fitzpatrick-Leland House, Los Angeles. Photograph: Tag Christof, 2021. Courtesy MAK Center.
1. Residency Overview
The Researcher-in-Residence is a $5,000 award and four-to-eight-week summer residency at R.M. Schindler’s Fitzpatrick-Leland House in Los Angeles, California. The residency is awarded annually to an architect, artist, and/or researcher to conduct original research that contributes to the current topic. The Researcher-in-Residence Program was jointly established in 2024 by the MAK Center for Art and Architecture and the SOM Foundation to provide space and time for rigorous work that addresses pressing issues related to the built environment.
2. Topic: Adapting Housing Strategies to Respond to New Realities
This year’s topic seeks to explore affordable, equitable, and innovative modes of multifamily housing that respond to current and future needs. These housing strategies need to consider changing demographics, collectivity, economy, work patterns, and the environment, through the exploration of design strategies, community engagement, economic models, and legal policies. With housing costs continuing to escalate and adequate housing remaining inaccessible for many in our communities, we need to think and build in a smart and sustainable way, update existing housing developments, and foster the adaptive reuse of other existing typologies to create thriving communities and healthy neighborhoods.
3. Eligibility
The Researcher-in-Residence program is open to professionals researching or practicing in a discipline that relates to the built environment.
The SOM Foundation and the MAK Center recognize that research and innovation benefit from a diverse range of perspectives, backgrounds, and approaches. That said, successful applicants will likely demonstrate a history of commitment to one or more of the following disciplines: architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, engineering, architectural history, sociology, writing, and/or visual art.
• Applicants can be based in the US or abroad. US citizenship is not required.
• Currently enrolled students are ineligible to apply, however doctoral candidates who have completed all coursework (ABD) may apply.
• Couples are eligible to apply together, however only one amount will be awarded, and the residency room must be shared.
• MAK Center employees, SOM Foundation board members and paid consultants, and SOM employees are ineligible to apply.
• Previously awarded SOM Foundation fellows may apply.
4. Dates and Location
• The term of this residency is four-to-eight weeks between June 1 and July 31, 2024. Exact dates during this timeframe are flexible.
• The residency is located in Los Angeles at the Fitzpatrick-Leland House. Originally designed by R.M. Schindler as a model home in 1936, the Fitzpatrick-Leland House also serves as the MAK Center’s Study Center. The residency includes a private bedroom, work space, bathroom, and access to communal kitchen and social spaces of the Fitzpatrick-Leland House. The residency spaces are located on the second floor of a residential house, which require one flight of stairs. For more information about the location, please visit makcenter.org/fitzpatrickleland-house.
• Due to space constraints, the residency is unable to accommodate additional family members or pets (except service animals).
5. Award
• A $5,000 award will be provided on the following schedule: 50% within 30 days upon signing the residency contract; and 50% within 30 days after the successful completion of the residency.
• The $5,000 award is intended to cover residency expenses such as flights, rental car, gas, food, materials, etc., as these expenses are not covered by the residency.
• Please note that the Fitzpatrick-Leland House is located at Mulholland Drive and Laurel Canyon, which is in a residential neighborhood and best accessed via car (a car is not provided by the residency).
6. Expected Outcomes
During the research period, the MAK Center and the SOM Foundation will schedule periodic check-ins with the recipient.
The MAK Center and the SOM Foundation will provide mentorship and networking support to recipients.
Each residency will culminate with a public talk or program related to the recipient’s research and interests. The nature of this program is flexible and will be proposed by the recipient and organized with MAK Center staff.
The public talk or program can present work in progress or can be final. Work and research conducted during the residency can be continued after the residency period.
Research projects are not required to be directly related to Los Angeles in order to be considered.
7. Application Requirements
Title Page
• Name of applicant
• Title of research project
• Proposed dates of residency (Specify exact dates applicant is available; must be at least four weeks and no more than eight weeks, between June 1 and July 31, 2024)
• Date of application
• Keywords
Abstract
• Provide a maximum 250-word abstract summarizing the topic of the proposed research. Specifically, describe the problems or the conditions that demonstrate the need for the research, the research question that will be addressed, the scope and proposed methodology of the work, and the expected outcomes of the project.
Description
• Provide a maximum 750-word expository description of the area of focus, scope, and outcomes of the proposed work during the residency, including a proposed idea for a public talk or program at the culmination of the residency. Please, also include information about any relevant work before and after the residency period related to the research project. Images that support the description of the project are encouraged.
Proposed Budget
• Provide a preliminary project budget for the residency period (e.g., itemized travel costs with estimated expenses, materials needed, etc.). Please include additional funds or in-kind support, if any, provided by other funding sources.
Proposed Schedule
• Provide a preliminary project schedule for the residency term and any relevant work before and after the residency period related to the research project.
Supporting Documentation
• CV of applicant
• List two references, including name, title, email, phone number, and relationship to each
• Provide a maximum of 8 pages of additional documentation directly related to the proposed research program (e.g., copies of completed or speculative creative work or building designs, relevant writings/artwork or other documents that establish unique qualifications).
There is no application fee.
8. Application Format
• Single PDF format
• 8.5ʺ x 11ʺ, portrait orientation
• 10 pages maximum
• 25 MB maximum
9. Application Deadline
Submit information via the application page form no later than Friday, March 8, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. CST. Applications received after that time will not be considered.
You should receive an email confirming the information you submitted. If not, please contact us at info@somfoundation.com.
10. Selection
The selection of awardee will be made by representatives of the SOM Foundation and the MAK Center for Art and Architecture.
11. Notification of Award
The winners will be notified no later than Friday, April 5, 2024.
12. Recipient Responsibilities
By accepting an award, the recipients agree to:
• four-to-eight week research stay in Los Angeles in June and/or July 2024.
• one public presentation or program at the end of the residency.
Any changes to the proposal need to be submitted in writing and approved by the MAK Center and the SOM Foundation.
13. Copyright
The winning applications will become part of the MAK Center and SOM Foundation’s archive. The MAK Center and the SOM Foundation reserve the right to use the winning applications—and the recipients’ monthly progress reports and final report—or any portion of them in press releases, presentations, exhibits, history books, and similar publications, as well as for public access and educational purposes in all media, including online. Authors will retain the copyright of their work.
14. Questions
For any questions or clarifications about the requirements and residency program, please contact info@somfoundation.com and office@makcenter.org.