Luna Vista Affordable Housing

Luna Vista is a 74 unit 58,000 square foot 100% affordable housing project. Designed around a central community room and courtyard, Luna Vista incorporates generous open space, taking advantage of the greater lot width at the rear yard of this irregular-shaped parcel. By placing the subterranean garage outside of this area, mature trees will grow and stormwater management can occur resulting in a quiet, planted oasis from the street life. Building mass is broken down at the front façade and capped with an ‘eyebrow’ that unifies the form and provides a ‘threshold’ of space within which to enter the project. Rear walls are angled to take advantage of differing views and orientations and to provide material relief in plane. The ground floor incorporates community and support spaces as well as residential units. The central community room is topped with planting and landscaping is a theme that carries from the front of the building to the rear, creating an open and pedestrian-oriented façade to the sidewalk and an inviting entryway. Considering that the target population for the project will include recently homeless and low-income households, the project design incorporates several features meant to foster community and a safe and tranquil living environment for tenants. First, the project design is centered on a central community room and courtyard which increases visibility and encourages both formal and informal social interaction. Second, as previously mentioned, the design incorporates generous open space, taking advantage of the greater lot width at the rear yard of this irregular-shaped parcel. Third, the design promotes safety through its perimeter by allowing tenants direct and secure access from 2 pedestrian access points along the front sidewalk where open visibility is created by a pedestrian-oriented façade. Lastly, unit interiors and common corridors will provide generous natural light.