Flor 401 Lofts

{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[],"markups":[],"sections":[[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Permanent supportive\nhousing, like this project in Los Angeles, serves the recently unhoused and\nthose living with mental illness, two populations most impacted by a lack of\naccess to care and climate change. Flor 401 Lofts is distinguished by its\ndesign, which optimizes architecture\u2019s potential to support health and\nwell-being for these populations in a rare garden setting on the edge of the\ncity\u2019s Skid Row. "]]],[1,"blockquote",[[0,[],0,"\u0022This project addresses a\nhuge need and does so with a modest palette of materials, simple color, and\nwell-composed form and in a way that is respectful, dignified, inviting, and\nvery L.A.\u0022 - Jury comment "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"In this LEED Platinum-certified\nbuilding, completed in late 2020 for a nonprofit housing provider, design\nstretches beyond the \u201carchitecture of survival.\u201d Residents of Flor 401 Lofts\nare welcomed home by a tree-canopied courtyard through a gate and trellis that\nquietly disguises necessary security. Directly off the courtyard sit on-site\nsocial services and a generous stair that leads to activity spaces on the\nsecond floor. On the top floor, a vegetable garden awaits as another activity\nto promote healing. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Life safety egress, generally\naccomplished through hidden exit stairs, is achieved by replacing some stairs\nwith cost-equivalent bridges. The bridges contribute to the highly visible\ncirculation path throughout the building, encouraging informal exercise and\nsocial interaction as a corollary. The studio apartments surrounding the\ncourtyard are modest, but they feature ample daylight, kitchens, and private\nbathrooms."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\u201cThis project addresses a\nhuge need and does so with a modest palette of materials, simple color, and\nwell-composed form and in a way that is respectful, dignified, inviting, and\nvery L.A.,\u201d noted the jury. \u201cSimple, practical circulation encourages community\nand a connection to the surrounding urban context.\u201d"]]],[1,"blockquote",[[0,[],0,"\u0022Simple, practical circulation encourages community\nand a connection to the surrounding urban context.\u0022 - Jury comment"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The team was challenged to\nrethink the role of open space as a means to promote health and sustainability\nand demonstrate what could be achieved on a budget and within regulatory\noverlays that hamper experimentation. Flor 401 Lofts\u2019 massing allows it to capture\nsummer breezes and frames the cascading garden that anchors daily life there. By\nreframing the idea of open space from a residual benefit to a generator of\ndesign, the team provided a transformative triple-line benefit in a climate\nzone where outdoor space can be enjoyed throughout the year. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"This project is clearly a\nbenefit to those who call it home, but it also benefits the city at large,\nwhich continues to struggle to deliver much-needed permanent housing to many in\nthe population. Flor 401 Lofts will be preserved as affordable housing in\nperpetuity, and its garden and durable construction will extend its value well\ninto the future. "]]]]}