The build-to-rent neighborhood in the Dellrose master planned community is an example of excellence born of innovation. KTGY’s experts knew of the growing desire for those renting by choice to move from traditional stacked flats into detached rental homes. KTGY brought forward its Research + Development Studio concept, The Patch – a green space focused cottage-style community – as an aspirational way to enhance Empire Communities’ build-to-rent portfolio.

Architectural designers worked alongside Empire to adapt the concept to fit the needs of this demographic. The result is a single-family build-to-rent cottage-style community that provides public paseos and private green space.

The client’s goal was to create residences that had operational advantages which in turn created long-term values. To accomplish this, KTGY’s designers asked, “How can design help Empire build and manage these communities efficiently?” The solution was to create a well-designed core model of one bedroom, one bathroom, a kitchen and living space that connect to a private yard.
From here, each plan expands either horizontally or vertically, creating a commonality between plan types. This efficiency allows for adaptability between markets as well as flexibility during the construction process.

While the land plan creates a public paseo that steers pedestrians to front doors and connects to amenity spaces, the design of the homes focuses on a strong relationship with private yards. By relating the homes to a side yard, efficiency in the land plan is gained while providing solitude for residents. Large expanses of glass in the living area and primary suite connect to outdoor spaces expanding the livable area and carrying light through the interior. Designers laid out the interior spaces to ensure that the wall bordering the neighboring yard is free of visual connections, creating privacy without losing livability. In these rooms, windows are placed on front or rear walls allowing ample light to enter the space.

Located within an established master plan, the designers were deliberate about creating an aesthetic that was a little unpredictable. Home designs were crafted to be daring but contextually compatible. Traditional materials are used in a modern approach through the reshaping of the form of the house. The same concept was brought forth when selecting the color schemes. Where material changes often cue a shift in color, these eye-catching homes use familiar colors of gray, black and white in a monochromatic way. Roof and siding colors flow together to create a bold statement.

Spurred by the uptick in a desire to work-from-home and the subsequent movement away from the urban core, it is anticipated that this asset class will continue to grow along with the rise in interest rates. This, paired with the overwhelming need for housing across the nation, calls for innovation in the approach. By creating a “core” plan, KTGY delivered a community that is repeatable and scalable; one that appeals to not only singles, but also growing families and older adults all looking to live in a highly amenitized and professionally managed neighborhood. This results in a community that is active, diverse and overall better – better for the residents, better for the client.

Team
Owner: Empire Communities
Architect | Planner: KTGY
Landscape Architect: KGA DeForest Design
Civil: Jones Carter

Typology
Build-to-Rent
Single-Family Detached

Facts
Density: 12.1 du/ac
Unit Plan Sizes: 630 – 1,434 sq. ft.
Number of Homes: 182 du
Site Area: 15 ac