In an area with a critical need for more affordable housing, KTGY continued a successful partnership with affordable housing developer/operator BRIDGE Housing. Situated in an amenity-rich neighborhood near entertainment, job opportunities and education, Vista Azul brings 70 subsidized residences to the notoriously expensive Southern California coast. Working with our client to develop a tight, odd-shaped site, and a designer’s eye to both neighborhood style and environmental concerns, KTGY’s architects delivered a contextual and aesthetically pleasing design in a complete and dignified housing solution. Working with the city of Carlsbad, California to meet requirements, the building includes photovoltaic panels on the roof and covered parking, earning a Green Point gold certification. The site also includes a riparian buffer to protect coastal plant life.
With a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units, the development aims to be accessible for a range of working individuals and working families earning between 30 and 60 percent of area median income. The building is arranged in a wedge shape to fit the snug site, with a buffer of surface parking between the building and the streets. The first floor includes an office and some amenity space, but the building’s efficient tuck-under design reserves most of it for parking with three residential stories above. The development provides a full suite of amenities for its residents including a courtyard with children’s play area, club room, kitchen, laundry and picnic area. The building’s height is limited to just four stories, enabling wood construction for a quicker and more efficient build process. Respecting the tastes of residents and neighbors, the facade design is contemporary and attractive. It exhibits a tasteful and contextual Spanish-Colonial influence with tan stucco and white fiber cement accents, capped off with sloping Spanish tile roofs.
