Lorena St. Bridge House

Year: Fall 2018, Southern California Institute of Architecture, Instructor: Darin Johnstone Location: Boyle Heights, Los Angeles CA Type: Residential

Lorena St Bridge House is a low income duplex in Boyle Heights. The duplex is broken up into two volumes. In the front of the house, the first volume contains the living quarters for all residences (a ground floor and a second floor unit). Each unit has three bedrooms that face a shared courtyard space. The unit can easily be broken into co housing since each bedroom also has its own private entrance coming in from the courtyard. This is an important feature, as it allows for social dynamics beyond the expected nuclear family structure. The back volume of the house is a shared place of work. It has an open floorplan and can easily be used as an office, gallery, studio, etc. Formally, it does not try to stick out or call attention to itself as a new icon in the neighborhood. Instead, it nods to Lorena St Bridge, the little known monument across the street, and tries to be a good neighbor.