House1 will occupy a corner lot at 44 th Street and Vincennes, in the Bronzeville neighborhood.

The area, just south of Chicago's downtown, was once part of the original and luxurious Gold Coast.   During the 1920's the area saw the unprecedented migration of African Americans from the South, and grew to become the city's vibrant center of African American culture and economy.

In the 1960's and 70's, urban renewal projects and large public housing developments led to a rapid decline in population and community resources.   As residents relocated, the housing stock deteriorated, with much of it being demolished.   For years, Bronzeville was one of the city's poorest neighborhoods.

Today, after the demolition of thousands of public housing units, the area has again become a magnet for new development.

The IIT/Genesis collaboration seeks to demonstrate that affordable and energy efficient homes are a viable option for both developers and homeowners and will aid in the revitalization of the Bronzeville neighborhood.