Vertical Courtyard Housing Los Angeles

Neil KingProfessor Bowne

+Contention

The courtyard typology has been a staple in Los Angeles urban housing for decades. So far courtyard typologies have been spread throughout the city in conjunction with the urban sprawl. Now that Los Angeles has reached its horizontal sprawl limit, it is time for the courtyard typologies to form a vertical element within the city.

Separate Courtyard Typologies Spread

Throughout LA

Present Condition Future Condition

Integrated Vertical Courtyard Housing

CURRENT STATE

Traffic

Spread Detached Homes

Smog

Gangs

Has Led to

TypologyThe Single-Bar Parti

The space between buildings and neighboors creates the courtyard condition.

The Double-Bar Parti

The space between the detached buildings creates the courtyard. This is a rare condition.

The L Parti

Typically open to the street and onto sidewalk. Often times the courtyard space is used for parking.

The U Parti

Most common typology; open end of courtyard typically faces steet. Often apartment entrances are from courtyard.

The Completed Courtyard Parti

Typically 2 stories around courtyard which has central object/focus. Most private type of courtyard.

BUT WHY COURTYARD HOUSING?

Courtyard housing offers the amenities of a single family home within a community living environment.

Single Family House Apartments Courtyard Housing

+ =

Detached House Amenities

Fresh AirPrivate PropertyDriveway & ParkingGardenOften Multiple Floors

Apartment Amenities

Community LivingOften Nice ViewsLots of LightLow MaintenanceOften close to downtown

Courtyard Housing

The courtyard typology has become prevalent in Los Angeles be-cause of its hybrid condition. Angelenos are known to want their own private house rather than living in a apartment. Residents are also known for their love of the car and many apartment options close to the city center do not have easy access to parking lots. The courtyard housing condition offers most of the private and ex-terior amenities of a single family home. It also offers the charac-teristics of an apartment such as a community living environment and light maintenance.

+ =

SITE

MacArthur Park

W 7th St

W 6th St

W 8th St

W 9th St

Wilshire BlvdS

Park

Vie

w St

S Al

vara

do S

t

S La

ke S

t

S W

estla

ke A

ve

S Bo

nnie

Bra

e St

S Bu

rling

ton

St

S G

rand

Vie

w St

S Pa

rk V

iew

St

MacArthur Park Programs

Site Metro

Pond

Soccer Field

Theater Space

Playground

Community Center

Westlake District

The site is located within the Westlake neighborhood. Westlake is a district within the city of Los Angeles. It is located just west of Downtown LA and covers an area of two and a half square miles. The neighborhoods main attraction is MacArthur Park and the site sits at the southern corner. Wilshire Boulevard is the main street that runs through the sector and has a variety of businesses located along its path. Westlake is one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Here are some statistics about the Westlake community:

Population: 117,756 persons

Population Density: 38,212 persons/square mile

Demographics: 73.4% Latino, 16.5% Asian, 4.5% White, 3.9% Black, and 1.7% Other

Immigration: 67% of population is foreign born

Education: 30% of population has less than a high school education

Median Income: $26,757

EE

E

M

M

H

H

H

EMH

EMH

H

E

E

HH

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

M

M

H

VV

V

V VV

V

V

V

V

V

B

B

BB

B

BG

G

GT

T

T

T

T

TT

T

A

A

R

R

RR

R

RR

R

RR

R

Major StreetHighway

Purple Line

Metro Stop

Minor Street

Red Line

ElementaryVehicle Theft

Assault

Elementary

Elementary

MiddleBurglary

Robbery

Middle

Middle

HighGrand Theft AutoTheft

High

High

Charter SchoolsProperty Crime

Site

Site

Site

Site

Violent Crime

Public Schools

Private Schools

Schools

Streets

Crimes

Metro

4/28/12 - 5/4/12

110

101

10

West 7th StWest 7th StWest 7th StWest 7th StWest 7th St

Sou

th L

ake

St

Sou

th A

lvar

ado

St

130 ft

24,700 sqft

190 ft

North

DESIGN

Site

Form

Families

Seniors

Young People

Divide

Create

Seniors

Families

Young People

Stretch

Shift

Insert

Raise

Level 0116 = 1-0

Level 1116 = 1-0

Level 2116 = 1-0

Level 3-6116 = 1-0

AA AAAA AA AA AA

Level 7116 = 1-0

Level 8116 = 1-0

Level 9-13116 = 1-0

AA AAAA AA AA AA

Level 14116 = 1-0

Level 15116 = 1-0

Level 16-18116 = 1-0

Level 19-20116 = 1-0

AA AAAA AA AA AA AA AA

East Elevation116 = 1-0

North Elevation116 = 1-0

Transverse Section116 = 1-0

Section PerspectiveLooking Northwest

Section Perspective Section PerspectiveLooking Northwest

Section Perspective