Light and Air

Living Void

Low Rise: Housing Competition for Los Angeles

Location: Los Angeles

Year: 2021

Status: Proposal

Program: Residential

Area: 6,000 SF

In collaboration with Zhan Chen

Team: Shane Neufeld, Jacky Hoang

“Living Void” aims to preserve the unique qualities of Los Angeles housing, such as light, air, shared exterior space and greenery, while providing novel solutions to the need for increased density. A series of “L” shaped units are carefully composed next to, and on top of, each other in order to frame three main courtyards; two of which are shared green space, and the third, located towards the vehicular entry at the street, is parking. Each courtyard is bound by units on three sides, resulting in a semi private-public space that’s brought to life by the community of residents that surround it, and the light that pours into it. Adjacent to the courts are public spaces within the units themselves: kitchens, living rooms and dining rooms, whereas bedrooms and bathrooms are located off of the shared, central space. 

All six units are connected by a continuous path that loops around the site, moving up and down, providing a freedom of movement that is never compromised by dead ends. Elevated, exterior patios are connected to lower levels by stairs located in two of the three courtyards. Movement, whether it be horizontal or vertical, is always in the open and visible, maximizing transparency and inclusivity. By placing stairs directly inside the public courts, they offer residents a place to sit, and congregate around the greenery. Additionally, our design offers the community ample outdoor space that can function as both public and private.  

Units are constructed from CLT (mass timber) panels, thus making use of low carbon construction methods, and employ large, operable windows, louvers and ventilation systems that all work together to produce an environmentally sophisticated and mindful building. Large, sliding, glass panels located along each unit’s lengths provide for ample cross ventilation, while centrally located chimneys initiate stack ventilation in the summer, while doubling as heating in the winter. 

Living Void - Ground Floor + Landscape Plan

1 Vehicular entry

2 Bike storage

3 Pedestrian entry

4 Parking

5 Shared laundry

6 Community Space

7 Shared exterior courtyard

8 Typical 1BR

Living Void - Second Floor Plan

1 Elevated 1BR unit

2 Open to below

3 Elevated exterior shared space

4 Typical 2BR unit

5 3BR unit second floor

6 Open to below - courtyard

7 Private exterior space