The West Hollywood (Calif.) Planning Commission has approved an 11-unit contemporary apartment building that will provide an unusual “village” approach to multifamily rental housing.
Architects at Culver City, Calif.–based R&A Architecture + Design organized the residential complex of two- to three-story townhouses around a semi-private courtyard, rather than as a single, monolithic apartment building with internalized corridors. The two- and three-bedroom units ring the courtyard, which opens to the street from dual pathways to enhance a sense of community, says R&A principal Christian Robert. The apartments are designed at different heights with varied façades of stucco, glass, and wood so that the individuality and privacy of each unit is maintained. “This segmented massing respects the scale of nearby homes,” Robert says.
Further minimizing the overall scale of the project, the unit sizes shift within the residential complex to complement and enhance the residential urban scale. Large windows—some forming corner glass boxes—and shifting volumes lend the site its village feel. These design choices result in a smaller-scale presence, rather than overwhelming the surrounding homes with a large, undifferentiated volume.
The project, which is being developed by Los Angeles–based Martel Heights, with construction targeted to begin in spring 2018, also incorporates many sustainable initiatives. The units will be naturally cross-ventilated through the central courtyard, while internal staircases will allow for stack-effect ventilation, with adjacent doors fitted with louvers and screens to further circulate air. All units will be finished with concrete floors to provide thermal mass, minimizing the cost and energy usage associated with heating and cooling. Energy-efficient glazing, passive solar design, and clerestory windows will also help minimize heat gain and energy consumption.
Each unit averages 1,585 square feet and is designed with a connection to exterior landscaped spaces, including roof decks and patios. Drought-tolerant, native plantings in the outdoor spaces, designed by Yael Lir Landscape Architects of South Pasadena, will also reduce the project’s environmental impact year-round. The apartments will be set back from the street and adjacent properties, and a landscaped buffer will screen them from their immediate neighbors. An underground garage will provide 27 parking spaces for residents and visitors.
