Project Oasis

University of Southern California, USC School of Architecture

Project idea

The site of this project is located at the intersection between Figueroa and Slauson street in Los Angeles. Upon arrival at the site, my immediate response was a sense of dis-connection and segregation enforced by the heavy use of physical barriers such as chain link fences to separate one house from another. My proposal for the co-housing project works to create a closely knitted community that is inclusive of the neighborhood and the residences.

Project description

Given Los Angeles' lack of public facilities and open spaces, I see my project as an oasis, a space that creates togetherness with ample amenities gathered in the same building. The design is split into three major programs: commercial, residential and recreational. The commercial section of the project is located on the first and ground levels while the residential clusters begin on the second floor all the way up to the 7th floor. The project includes a recreational tower in the center of the complex that penetrates through all floors with spaces to accommodate both in-door and outdoor activities. The spaces within the clubhouse are arranged based on their functions. Generally speaking, the higher floors of the clubhouse are designed for residence use, while lower floors are designed for the general public and local community to use. The operation allows privacy for the residence and also accounts for security issues. Some notable spaces included in the project are the sky garden and outdoor picnic and barbecue, a plunge pool, mini soccer field, and gym for residence; there are also cafes, a skate park, book-store etc.

Technical information

Formally, the operation focuses on creating a synthetic landscape in the form of a continuous ribbon which meander around the recreational tower and within the confines of the site to create spaces for all three programs. The residential clusters are located on the quieter side of the site away from Slauson street and also opening up the south facade and flooding the recreational and outdoor green spaces with sunlight.

The axonometric drawing provides an overview of the project relative to site context, coupled with the plans to show the intricacy of the project plans to provide private living quarters, shared common spaces, and open outdoor areas. The perspectives give a snippet of life within the complex, illustrating the notion of sharing shapes a community of inclusiveness and collaboration.