Claudia Heitkamp

Interior Design, 2022

The lower income families of Franklinton, Ohio have struggled through the redevelopment of the area. These residents need new developments that benefit them. Affordable housing, available transportation, and fresh foods within the area has been an issue for the community. Safe, affordable, and accessible co-living units is a way to help this part of the community.

Reborn Refuge is a co-living community that helps support single parent families. The community of parents and children come together to form a large family system. The co-living building is made up of private living units, as well as multiple shared amenities: daycare, kitchen, dining, living, work pods, and laundry. The building also has a connected grocery store as a source of fresh food.

Built on five main strategies – openness, comfort, simplicity, affordability, and natural – Reborn Refuge brings a promising and positive future to single parent families.

Claudia Heitkamp is an interior designer from a small town in Ohio – Russia ("ROO-shee") – Claudia started her interior design career with the redesign of her parent’s home. Claudia has furthered her education in interior design at the Ohio State University and is a graduate of 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design. She is continuing her career with Fanning Howey in Celina, Ohio.