KTGY’S contribution to the urban renewal at Jordan Downs embodies our approach to the design of affordable housing. Our team interpreted an ambitious specific plan with architectural designs that synthesize efficiency and durability with safety and comfort. Centered on a ne w public park, dotted with amenities and intertwined by pedestrian circulation, our design populates two plots with a group of carefully scaled buildings. The site ebbs between podiums and walkups, and this variety creates an organic neighborhood in response to feedback from residents.
Embracing a public park, the first podium building has amenities terraced overlooking it, and both spaces are overlooked by the units’ balconies. These levels establish a visual connection from the private balconies, through shared amenities and into public space. Safety is paramount to the longtime residents of Jordan Downs, and sightlines increase the feeling of safety and encourage togetherness — making this a community where children can play under the eye of parents and neighbors.
The two halves of the site are united in a traditional character expressed through durable materials. Variations in color, mass and scale make each building identifiable, while setbacks and scale changes between the podiums and walkups create visual interest, energize the street and connect sightlines between the different ends of the site. Spacious units with play areas, modern amenities and secure entries deliver the kind of housing that his community has long needed, and the development has had a warm reception from residents and local leaders.
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