Arbor South built The Sage house on an infill lot within 1/2-mil…
Arbor South built The Sage house on an infill lot within 1/2-mile walk of retail and community outlets; an extensive bike path network also is accessible.
Mike Dean Photography
Sporting a traditional Pacific Northwest look, The Sage is desig…
Sporting a traditional Pacific Northwest look, The Sage is designed to show local buyers that going green does not mean sacrificing aesthetics.
Mike Dean Photography
The modern kitchen features Pioneer Millworks reclaimed flooring…
The modern kitchen features Pioneer Millworks reclaimed flooring, Energy Star-rated refrigerator and dishwasher from KitchenAid, locally sourced wood cabinets, and Squak Mountain recycled-content countertops. Clerestory windows flood the open room with natural light.
Mike Dean Photography
In addition to low-flow fixtures, the bathrooms feature cork flo…
In addition to low-flow fixtures, the bathrooms feature cork flooring from Sustainable Flooring and PaperStone countertops, which are crafted from post-consumer waste and petroleum-free resins.
Mike Dean Photography
An open floor plan and attention to window placement boost the a…
An open floor plan and attention to window placement boost the amount of natural light infiltrating the space.
Mike Dean Photography
Pioneer Millworks reclaimed flooring brings a one-of-a-kind look…
Pioneer Millworks reclaimed flooring brings a one-of-a-kind look to the bedrooms and the rest of the house. Creative placement of an interior wall sections off storage.
Mike Dean Photography
Windows on two sides of the bedroom bring natural light while ma…
Windows on two sides of the bedroom bring natural light while making the room feel larger.
Mike Dean Photography
Drought-tolerant plants and permeable surfacing keep this relaxi…
Drought-tolerant plants and permeable surfacing keep this relaxing backyard eco-friendly. A 1,000-gallon cistern (top right) lends a modern, industrial feel while supplying water for plants and for the landscape pond (top left).
In Santa Barbara, Calif., where property values are among the highest in the nation (it is, after all, known as “The American Riviera”), this intimate little infill project pulls off the seemingly impossible. It tucks 12 pretty apartments into a downtown historic district on a tenth of an acre, sandwiched between a parking garage and an adjacent commercial building. And get this: The units are affordable, offering rents of just $560 to $680 per month to low-income workers with incomes between $27,250 and $43,600 per year.
Budgetary constraints were sizable, and yet Peikert Group Architects artfully complied with the old city’s strict Spanish colonial architectural guidelines. Units ranging from 485 to 602 square feet feature high ceilings, decorative tile, clean stucco and clay tile roof exteriors, arched colonnades, iron gates and lanterns, and private balconies overlooking the adjacent public plaza, court house, and city library.
Residents enjoy access to an adjacent public bike station with lockers, maintenance equipment, and shower facilities. The apartments are a quick walk to public transit, shopping, parks, and various social and cultural hot spots. And the lucky few who live there aren’t the only ones to benefit; the project beautifies the urban core, transforming what was formerly a blank wall into a lyrical piece of architecture.
