Westwood Condominiums, Los Angeles CA
This small residential development is located in a quiet, peaceful neighborhood south of Wilshire Boulevard and in close proximity to the UCLA campus. The site is currently occupied by a single-family residence built in 1939 and is surrounded primarily by two- and three-story apartment buildings, reflecting the established scale and residential character of the neighborhood.
Although situated in an area with strict zoning and building code requirements governing height, open space, parking, and egress, the client’s goal was to develop a combination of studio and two-bedroom apartments. One of the primary challenges was to maximize the development potential of the relatively constrained site without compromising the quality, functionality, or character of the residential spaces. In response to the orientation of the units and their relationship to the surrounding buildings, a second building skin composed of fixed and sliding panels was introduced. These wood shutters filter daylight and street noise while providing greater privacy for the interior living spaces. The operable panels also allow residents to adjust the façade in response to changing environmental conditions and individual privacy needs. The project represents the transformation of an under-built residential property into a higher-density investment property, taking advantage of development potential permitted by the local zoning while remaining sensitive to the scale and character of the surrounding neighborhood.
A second skin, composed of fixed and sliding panels, was introduced to provide an additional layer of privacy and environmental control. The wood shutters filter daylight and street noise while creating a sense of enclosure and privacy within the interior spaces. The operable panels also allow residents to adjust the façade in response to changing light conditions and individual needs. The project represents the transformation of an under-built residential property into a higher-density investment property, maximizing the site’s allowable development potential and increasing its leasable and marketable area while maintaining a thoughtful relationship with the surrounding neighborhood.
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2005
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N/A
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9,900 SF
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Private
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SITEFORMA
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Matthew Finn
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