14TH STREET

Santa Monica CA, USA
Completed 1995

This 8 unit apartment complex located on a 50 ft x 150 ft lot is a replace­ment of a 1960’s generic apartment building which was severely damaged in January, 1994 earth­quakes and sub­sequently demolished. This replace­ment project consists of six town­house style apartments with two bedroom 2 ½ bathrooms; and two "affordable housing" units for low and moderate income occu­pants. The structure is two and one-half storey wood­framed over a sub­terranean parking structure made of concrete block perimeter walls and fire rated steel and wood struc­ture. This struc­tural solution was devised to save on the cost of the sub­terranean base. All town­house units have direct access to under­ground enclosed parking. They have separate dining room/den and a loft over­looking living and dining rooms. Lofts are designed as work space for "in home offices". Despite strict zoning height and setback restric­tions of the city (relaxed for this earthquake project giving the designer more freedom to work) and developer’s requirement for best economic use of the site (largest square footage and highest number of units), layout of and spaces in units have been designed to be variable, fluid and lively with interesting interior perspectives. Living and master bedrooms with 12’ high and dining/den areas with 15’ high ceilings giving the units a spacious feeling while the best use of space was achieved.