CHRISTINA HACOPIAN
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Housing Project
SOCIAL HOUSING AT GARVANZA
My design concept is one which focuses on bringing both the residents of the apartment and locals from the community together. The way which it does this is by providing public spaces which are open to everyone. The first of these public areas is the café which is located on the ground floor in front of the residential parking lot. As a local, you would come into the café, order what you want and then go upstairs where the seating area is - to enjoy a coffee and a bite of a desert. The main goal of this large seating area is to bring people together, whether it is just to make new friends or to gather for business meetings. Meanwhile having your coffee, you can enjoy the wonderful view of the nearby park, church, and other local areas. Another great thing is if you are in a rush, you can just grab your coffee from the first floor on your way to work, rather than go to the upstairs seating area.
The building consists of 3 total units, 1 cafe, a shared laundry room, as well as a roof garden which is open to the residents and at certain areas times as well as the public. The ground floor is where parking is located for residents, so as you enter the site from the front where Figueroa Street or Garvanza ave. are located, you are able to park and then afterwards leave the parking from the back alley. Customers for the café can park anywhere on the main street or the back alley. Once you have parked, there are two entry’s; if you are a resident, you enter from the staircase located in the parking lot which would be accessible at all hours, and if you are coming for the café then you would use the other staircase located on the first floor café ordering room. Having two separate circulations also works to maintain privacy between the residents and the customers. Lastly, there is the Roof Garden which is open mainly for residents, but at certain hours of the day open to the public as well. This main attraction is guaranteed to bring locals from around together to come check out the view and listen to band members playing some music for everyone to enjoy.