Koning Eizenberg Architecture

Part of an ambitious goal to create a new sustainable neighborhood in Santa Monica, the Belmar provides 160 units of affordable housing. The project was developed through a public/private partnership on City owned land, with the City leveraging its interest to achieve an unusually high proportion of affordable units- 50%. The masterplan, generated through a community design process, is organized around a public walk street, which anchors affordable housing to the south and market rate condominiums to the north and south. The project fronts the walk-street and negotiates a sloping triangular site wedged between existing office buildings. Manipulation of the grade change shapes a central courtyard to achieve the required unit count within strict height limits. Savings from the efficient plan bought structurally expensive cantilevers that release more ground level open space along the walk street.