Lexington

Behind a minimalist grid facade, the multi-family apartments in Hollywood respond to Los Angeles’ housing shortage with unique coliving unit types. Located south of the 101 and 1/2 mile from the Metro Red Line, the project qualifies for the Transit Oriented Communities Affordable Housing Incentive Program (TOC) with 17 units, 2 units provided for extremely low income residents. The existing residential community is experiencing multi-family growth in the neighborhood, encouraging more density in this up and coming neighborhood. A height of 5 stories, the building mass consists of two apartment blocks that surround a central courtyard. Balconies line the front facade, framing views to the Hollywood sign and hills beyond.

Each of the 17 units comprise a variety of co-living arrangements that accommodate single residents wanting to live in a community setting, or larger, multi-generational families. The project provides a balance of private bedrooms with communal spaces for the residents to share within the privacy of the unit. Containing shared kitchens, dining, and living areas, these spaces encourage socialization and community, allowing residents to socialize with the ease of proximity. Large balconies line the street facade with glass sliding doors, opening up to the living room and expanding the common area space. A recreation room and parking garage for 25 spaces at the ground floor creates a plinth for the residential stories to rest above the street. TOC incentives aid in decreasing the parking count, allowing a requirement of .5 space per unit. Minimizing the garage and parking space, residents still have the option to drive while taking advantage of the proximity to the public transportation options nearby.

The grid facade presents a minimal, yet striking contrast to the other residences in the neighborhood. Aligning with the balconies and common living space, the facade presents a clean expression of the building’s structure and frames the exterior courtyard stair. Similar to a large-scale lattice, the framework highlights varying levels of transparency through open air balconies, vertical wood screens, and floor-to-ceiling windows. A courtyard provides space between the two apartment blocks while allowing access to light and natural air for each bedroom. An open corridor within the courtyard connects the two masses and further exposes the transparency of internal circulation from the street.