THE PROJECT WAS A SMALL EXAMPLE OF A TRANSIT OREINTATED LIVING IN A SUBURBAN SETTING. AS POPULATION INCREASES, CITIES ARE REEXAMINING THEIR ZONING TO INCLUDE LAND FOR MULTIPLE DENSITY THAT WILL ACCOMODATE NEEDED HOUSING. THIS SIT WAS RECESSED FROM DOWNTOWN SAN ANSELMO. IT WAS ZONED FOR A SMALL OFFICE BUILDING BUT THE CITY WAS RECEPTIVE TO RESIDENTIAL AND THE REZONING WAS APPROVED.
LOCATED IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA OF SAN ANSELMO, CA, THIS SUBURBAN LOCATION WAS AN INFILL SITE THAT WAS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF RSIDENTIAL, SHOPPING AND TRANSPORTATION. THE SMALL FLAG LOT ALLOWED 3-THREE DWELLINGS WITH A 12′ ACCESS LANE FROM THE STREET.
THE DEDIGN IS FOR THREE CONDOMINIMUM TOWNHOUSES OF 1210 SQUARE FEET EACH. THEY WERE INTENTED FOR ONE BEDROOM DWELLINGS FOR WORKING SINGLES OR COUPLES.
EACH DWELLING IS A TWO STORY TOWNHOUSE WITH INTER- SECTIONS OF CURVED WALLS, DOMES, SKYLIGHTS, ARCHED WINDOWS AND DOORS, SET BACK AND SECLUDED FROM THE STREET, THESE SCULPTURAL FORMS SIT IN THEIR OWN WALLED GARDEN. WITHIN EACH FORM IS A CIRCULAR LIVING AND DINING AREA BELOW AND A MASTER BEDROOM AND STUDY AREA ABOVE. THE SHAPE OF THE WALLS EVOLVED FROM THE SITE LIMITATIONS. THERE IS A LIMITED OUTWARD VIEW AND A PRIVACY PROBLEM AT THE LOWER ENTRY LEVEL. CURVING THE WALLS PROVIDED EACH UPPER FLOOR THE MAXIMUM WINDOW OPENINGS DIRECTED TOWARDS LONGER DISTANCE VIEWS. NO UNIT CAN LOOK INTO ANOTHER UNIT SINCE A BLANK WALL IS ALWAYS OPPOSITE A WINDOW. INSIDE THESE CURVED WALLS, SPACES ARE CONTAINED AND TURNED TO AN INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT.
THE BUILDING AND THE GARDEN WALLS ARE SET OFF FROM THE PAVING BY SMALL PLANTING AREAS THROUGHOUT THE SITE. AT ENTRY LEVEL, THE LIVING AREAS HAVE THEIR OWN MINIATURE WALLED GARDEN TO LOOK INTO. THESE GARDEN WALLS ALSO PROVIDE A VISUAL SCREEN PREVENTING ANYONE FROM SEEING INTO EACH HOME FROM THE WALKWAY. THE ENTRANCES ARE AUGMENTED WITH SMALL EXTERIOR STORAGE ELEMENTS THAT PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK FOR ENTRY GATES, A VISUAL SCREEN BETWEEN UNITS, AND PATH AND STAIR LIGHTING. THE UPPER LEVEL BEDROOM HAS A CONICAL DOME WITH A SKYLIGHT AT THE APEX. PORTHOLE WINDOWS WERE USED AROUND THE DOME TO ALLOW THE SUN TO PENETRATE THROUGHOUT THE DAY. AT THE ENTRY LEVEL, THE FIREPLACE IS RECESSED INTO A SEMI-CIRCULAR NICHE THAT PROVIDES SEATING, WHILE IN THE BEDROOM ABOVE, THE NICHE FORMS A RAISED SEATING BAY.