Landforge
San Jose, CA
Podium | Apartments | Townhomes | Stacked Flats
The project is located in San Jose’s Japantown. Rather than hiding the triangular shaped site, designers chose to reinforce the shape by mirroring the angles in the elevation with angular walls and parapets. Influenced by its location the contemporary Japanese architecture is reinforced by the use of vertical glazing systems, alternating natural materials and a contrast between solid and transparent masses. Creating a place for residents to gather a triangular plaza was created at the front of the building. This plaza has a Japanese inspired landscape with a large focal tree in the middle. Due to contaminated soil and a high- water table designers were unable to create subterranean parking, this along with the cities 50′ height limit as well as the client’s desire to get greater than 75 du/ac required thoughtful design solutions. The solution was to introduce surface level mechanical parking lifts, saving space while meeting the parking requirement all while staying within the height limit and meeting the client’s density goals.