Model of Family Unit

Family Unit With Roof Removed

This is a rowhouse project located on Electric Avenue in Venice. There are two unit types- an artist's loft and a three-bedroom family unit. The form of the building resembles a crashing wave in both plan and section. This is a double-coded message; the obvious reference is the site's proximity to Venice Beach, but it is also a metaphor for the changing demographics of the neighborhood—as prices rise, families move and push out the artists who live in the area. Ironically, it is the families' wave shape that is solid in material while the loft unit, with its glazed facade, represents the transitory standing of the artists. By incorporating both of these conflicting user types, the project intends to resolve some of this tension while also drawing attention to the problem.