FOREST TRAIL APARTMENTS*

The design of this irregular site was driven by the need for sufficient parking in a compact layout as well as fire department access to the entire narrow but deep site. The resulting diagram gave us 3 smaller interconnected buildings built over and around a fire lane, with open catwalks and balconies tying it all together. Since the ground plane was given over to automobiles and access, the swimming pool and deck were located on the roof, giving all the residents a wide open space with dramatic city views. The units themselves were designed around a typical core for stacking kitchens and bathrooms for maximum efficiency, but with a variety of permutations to adapt to the different geometries and exposures that were a product of the unusual property.