The Habitat 15 project is a four story,
15 unit infill housing project at the
foot of the Hollywood Hills – 1/2 block
West of La Brea, and North of Fountain
Avenue. Each unit is between 1200 and
2000 square feet. The project is divided
into two separate buildings – West and
East, with a central courtyard acting as
both a buffer and connection between
them.
A subterranean parking
"pedestal" maximizes the lot
area, and accommodates the required
number of parking spaces. The ground
floor level, which is accessed through
the central courtyard, consists of five
units that take advantage of their
"at grade" position by opening
onto their adjacent outdoor spaces, each
also has a partial second floor with
bedroom. The remaining ten units are
configured vertically like townhouses.
The entries to these units are accessed
from the third floor via stairs and an
elevator along the edge of the
courtyard. Once inside, the units are
organized with main spaces such as
living and dining on the third level and
bedrooms either downstairs on the second
level or up a flight of stairs to the
fourth level. All the units are designed
to be light and airy with double height
ceilings and skylights over the living
and dining areas. The west building's
living spaces look out towards Detroit
Street and the Hollywood Hills. For the
East building's living spaces, the
courtyard acts as a kind of visual 'sky
yard' with a green "wall" of
landscape covering a forest of long
bamboo poles. This visual barrier also
allows the entries into the West
building to feel private and discreet.
The design process was a highly
interactive negotiation between the
architect and client. After several
explorations we arrived at the maximum
unit count composed of a ground level
"base" of loft-like units, 11
foot plus ceilings, and three story
townhouse-like units above. Essential in
the process was a constant awareness of
fundamental issues such as acoustical
separation, lateral strength, and clear
interior organization. From this simple
diagram, the project is invigorated with
lofty sectional volumes and a rich
central/social space via the green wall
and 'sky yards'.
Since Habitat has developed a
"manual" of key details and
product resources, we were able to work
within a clear set of parameters that
helped guide decisions such as window
type/size, exterior finish criteria, and
essential unit amenities.
Resources were consequently amplified
and focused on the unit interiors and
the Detroit Street façade. The project
is deceptively simple - the rectangular
exterior forms reveal an interior of
multi-story interlocking and spatially
dynamic volumes.

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Habitat 15 - Detroit Street Housing

1322, North Detroit Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Habitat 15 - Detroit Street Housing

1322, North Detroit Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Product Spec Sheet

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