HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/22/2002, - DESIGN JUSTIFICATION OVERVIEW HARRIS RESIDENCE r
Design Justification Overview
Project: Harris Residence
Location: 2713 Meadow Street, San Luis Obispo, California
Project Description:
Design and construction of a temporary family residence over a new detached garage. The
project will be located behind an existing residence to be remodeled. The site is located at 2713
Meadow Street on an existing R-1 lot, in the city of San Luis Obispo.
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Parameters:
Existing mid-block residential parcel in "old-town" San Luis Obispo. There are new single
family units under construction to the west and north, with an undeveloped site to the south.
Parcel is encumbered with an existing open space easement, which restricts any development
within the entire+/-35'of the western boundary.
Project Background:
The owner/applicants are long term residents of San Luis Obispo County (29 and 15 years
respectively). They currently reside in the city of San Luis Obispo in a 1,100 s.f. apartment. With
a growing family, they began exploring options to possess their own home. Their search for a
new home led them to 2713 Meadow Street. This parcel was being offered as "land" only, since
the existing house was in need of major structural and architectural improvements. It is the goal
of the new owners to remodel the existing house to bring it up to a"habitable"level. At the same
time, they intend to live on the land during the remodel by building this 835 s.f temporary
residence over the new detached garage. Upon completion of the primary residence, the new
owners intend to convert the temporary residence into an artist studio and office for themselves,
since one of the owners is a fine artist.
Design Statement:
Design a single family residential project that addresses the short term and long term architectural
and programmatic needs and desires of the owners, while addressing these issues of site
encumbrances, existing neighborhood context and architectural compatibility.
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Design Goals:
• Design should reflect an eclectic aesthetic derived from both client input and
neighborhood context.
• Design should be sensitive to the natural environment by utilizing the +/-35' open-space
easement area as a required setback to the west as well as an unadulterated visual
landscape feature on the site.
�;,. �:. _ - - • Site design should embrace neo-
`= traditional design parameters by
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residence and placing the(detached)
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garage in the rear
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' • Site design should create both quasi-
public and private outdoor"rooms"
g I � e _ • Site design should reflect the
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applicants need for an adequate
back yard for family gatherings and
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• Building design should be
contextually sensitive to the
neighborhood while addressing the
applicants desire for a spare and
elegant residence embellished with
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�, • Design should be "timeless" and
should age gracefully.
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Design Vocabulary:
In designing the garage and unit above, the design team endeavored to create a spare and elegant
structure retaining trace vestiges of ornamentation in the tradition of early Modernists such as
Adolph Loos in Vienna and Irving Gill in Los Angeles. The embellishments come in the form of
Travertine stone flooring, Travertine window sills, and Travertine parapet caps, as well as antique
wrought iron grille work from Tunisia, and antique tile from Pakistan. In addition, copper
overflow and balcony drains and cast Cimarron scuppers are added. Other elegant details include
tall casement windows and thick walls a la Parisian "Hotels", 19th century styled metal work on
the interior and a special plaster product installed over a "faux" door to give the impression of a
remodel to an antiquated structure. This special product allows the door infill to telegraph
through the plaster.
It is also the intention of the owners to allow the building to stain naturally to gain a rich patina,
hence the use of copper and stone in close proximity to white cement plaster walls. The plaster
will be a smooth steel trowel "Santa Barbara" finish to, again, recall the work of tum of the
century Modernists. Finally, future phases are to include colorful fountain tile in the style of
Alhambra in Granada, Spain along with channels and a lap pool.
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