La Brea Affordable Housing in West Hollywood, California by Patrick T I G H E Architecture

Article source: Patrick T I G H E Architecture 

The La Brea mixed-use affordable housing project for people living with disabilities is a 50,000 sq ft building for the City of West Hollywood. The building maximizes density while allowing for ample outdoor space. 32 apartments are arranged around a shared exterior courtyard. Parking is provided at grade and commercial space is present along La Brea Avenue. The Southwest corner is expressed as a beacon of activity and houses the circulation and other shared amenities for the residents.

Image Courtesy © Bran Arifin

• Architects: Patrick T I G H E Architecture
• Project: La Brea Affordable Housing
• Location: West Hollywood, California, US
• Photography: Art Gray Photography, Bran Arifin, Kervin Lau

Image Courtesy © Art Gray Photography

The project was constructed through a non-profit developer to address an affordable housing shortage for tenants living with disabilities. The mixed-use program brings higher density into the urban core of the city. Locating the project within the central urban fabric of the community ensures that residents have direct access to local businesses and services. Multiple public transportation options are directly accessible on the busy transit corridor of Santa Monica Boulevard minimizing the need for private transportation. The building demonstrates one of the city’s core values of environmental responsibility and its commitment to green building. The highly sustainable building exceeds the requirements of the city’s Green Building Ordinance.

Image Courtesy © Art Gray Photography

Program:

The building contains 32 residential units. Commercial / Retail space is located along LaBrea at the ground level. Parking is provided at grade for the residents and for visitors. An outdoor courtyard provides a garden for residents from which access to the units is provided. Each apartment has its own private outdoor space (80 sq ft) with designated storage room.  Common areas exist for the residents as well as for public use.  Laundry facilities and other support spaces are provided.

Image Courtesy © Art Gray Photography

Sustainability:

The arrangement of the proposed architectural scheme facilitates an environmentally conscious approach to the building services design. Sustainable features are integral to the design. Passive solar design strategies are used and include:  a north south orientation for the courtyard; locating and orienting the building to control solar cooling loads; shaping and orienting the building for exposure to prevailing winds; designing windows to maximize daylight and designing units to maximize natural ventilation.  A 20 watt kw photovoltaic panel system is integrated into the façade and roof of the building that will supply most of the peak load electricity demand. A hydronic solar system is located on the roof and provides free hot water for the residents.  Multiple facets of green building are achieved such as construction and waste management, storm water diversion, construction air quality, sustainable materials and finishes, water conservation, and energy efficiency.

Image Courtesy © Bran Arifin

Image Courtesy © Bran Arifin

Image Courtesy © Bran Arifin

Image Courtesy © Kervin Lau

Image Courtesy © Art Gray Photography

Image Courtesy © Art Gray Photography

Image Courtesy © Bran Arifin

Image Courtesy © Art Gray Photography

Image Courtesy © Bran Arifin

Image Courtesy © Bran Arifin

Image Courtesy © Bran Arifin

Image Courtesy © Bran Arifin

Image Courtesy © Patrick Tighe Architecture

Image Courtesy © Patrick Tighe Architecture

Image Courtesy © Patrick Tighe Architecture

Tags: California, US

Categories: House, House for disabled, Housing Development, Mixed use, Residential

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