Chaz Kern
Chaz is a design practitioner focused on developing housing models rooted in self-determination, and creating pathways to put them into practice. As a co-founder of Office of she developed the organization’s first strategic plan, shaping its purpose as a practice on Reparative Urban Development. At LA Más she managed the Backyard Homes Project, an initiative that helped homeowners build a new Section 8 rental Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). She’s an orgaizer with Design as Protest, a Board Member at the Association for Community Design, and currently working at a Community Land Trust in Eugene Oregon.
Chaz has been featured in Wallpaper Magazine and named Cultured Magazine’s inaugural 2021 Young Architect. Chaz’s work is in the Smithsonian Institute Permanent Collection, and she has been has been invited to guest lecture at Rice University, University of Oregon, SCI-Arc, UCLA, USC, and UC Berkeley.
Chaz has been featured in Wallpaper Magazine and named Cultured Magazine’s inaugural 2021 Young Architect. Chaz’s work is in the Smithsonian Institute Permanent Collection, and she has been has been invited to guest lecture at Rice University, University of Oregon, SCI-Arc, UCLA, USC, and UC Berkeley.
Reimagining 'Home' Across the Asian Diaspora Lab
Designer & Facilitator
2024
How do we shape, experience, and imagine "home" within the Asian diaspora?
In partnership with the Asian American Justice Innovation Lab, this Lab invited participants to explore "home" as both an imagination and a geography—examining how Asian identities are formed and expressed through spaces outside of their 'homeland.'
By looking at both private and public spaces in the built environment, we identified where we feel affirmed or erased within our personal dwellings, neighborhoods, cities, and beyond. Through collective discussions and design exercises, we explored how identity, migration, ancestry, and the complexities of cultural expectations hold visual presence and meaning in the spaces around us. This lab ran for 5 months in 2024 and invited anyone who identifies as part of the South Asian, East Asian, South East Asian, West Asia, Central Asian, and Pacific Island Diaspora.
This Lab is indebted to and was inspired by: Center for Babaylan Studies, "Home Bound: Filipino American Lives Across Cultures, Communities, and Countries" by Yen Le Espiritu, the Design as Protest Collective, the Urban Humanities Network and “Is There Such a Thing as Asian Diasporic Architecture?” in the Dark Matter Issue of Architects Magazine by Tonia Sing Chi, BZ Zhang.
In partnership with the Asian American Justice Innovation Lab, this Lab invited participants to explore "home" as both an imagination and a geography—examining how Asian identities are formed and expressed through spaces outside of their 'homeland.'
By looking at both private and public spaces in the built environment, we identified where we feel affirmed or erased within our personal dwellings, neighborhoods, cities, and beyond. Through collective discussions and design exercises, we explored how identity, migration, ancestry, and the complexities of cultural expectations hold visual presence and meaning in the spaces around us. This lab ran for 5 months in 2024 and invited anyone who identifies as part of the South Asian, East Asian, South East Asian, West Asia, Central Asian, and Pacific Island Diaspora.
This Lab is indebted to and was inspired by: Center for Babaylan Studies, "Home Bound: Filipino American Lives Across Cultures, Communities, and Countries" by Yen Le Espiritu, the Design as Protest Collective, the Urban Humanities Network and “Is There Such a Thing as Asian Diasporic Architecture?” in the Dark Matter Issue of Architects Magazine by Tonia Sing Chi, BZ Zhang.
NELA Community Response
Public Engagement Collateral Development & Design
2020
Northeast LA Community Response, developed at LA Más, was a relief initiative created in response to the coronavirus crisis in March. The initiative was based in Elysian Valley and supported neighborhoods throughout Northeast Los Angeles, including Glassell Park, Cypress Park and Lincoln Heights. For 10 weeks, along with local volunteers we called neighbors, identified needs, and connected people to resources such as groceries, masks, activity kits, rent and mortgage information, unemployment filing, among others. With the tremendous support of 150+ volunteers who helped with outreach, assembly and deliveries and 30+ partners who offered their resources, over 2,000 Northeast LA residents were engaged and over 750 residents received direct support.
South Gate ADU Docs & PreApproved Program Development
Program Design
Consultant, Designer
2021-2023
Office of partnered with the City of South Gate to design a Permit Ready ADU Program that offers South Gate property owners a selection of free ADU Plans that have gone through part of the Plan Check process and are eligible for expedited permit approval. Participating homeowners benefit from reduced pre-development costs, a streamlined design, and expedited permitting process.