This architectural design competition began as one of the recommendations of the Housing Task Force of “Fairfield 2000”, a planning project for Fairfield County by the Connecticut Committee of the Regional Plan Association. The 250 people who participated in the Housing Task Force proposed a number of practical recommendations which they were determined to see implemented in order to reach their goal of 5000 additional new units of affordable housing per year by the year 2000. A design competition would demonstrate to the general public that housing for families of moderate income (up to $ 48,000 for a family of four) could be attractive and fit comfortably in existing neighborhoods. It would show that such housing could be innovative, appropriate to contemporary living, sensitive to environmental concerns and at ease in New England communities. We were concerned about a critical problem: citizens recognize the need for affordable housing but turn out to protest its construction when it is proposed near their own homes — the “NIMBY” (“Not In My Back Yard) factor.