The charm of this pedestrian-oriented, 18-unit bungalow court belies its controversial history. Neighbors and government agencies opposed the original plan for a Spanish elevation and insisted that three Craftsman-style homes on the site be preserved and restored. “In and of themselves, they were not historic, but they were part of a neighborhood fabric with historic character,” architect Detlev Peikert says.
The resulting site plan seamlessly integrates new townhomes with the incumbent single-family homes. It also makes the most of a steep slope, incorporating elevated walkways and exploiting the grade change to hide a motor court. A historic drainage course was rehabilitated for use as a bioswale.
CATEGORY: Infill project involving a single housing type
ENTRANT/ARCHITECT: Peikert Group Architects, Santa Barbara, Calif.
BUILDER/DEVELOPER: Capital Pacific Homes, Santa Barbara