Santa Rosa - SMART Urban Design Competition

This design was awarded a citation for the urban design plan with live-work units in Santa Rosa, California. The idea competition asked architects and planners to explore ways to retrofit the suburban landscape adjacent to a new light rail transit station that is part of the SMART transit system. The goal, based on community input, was to make the area more walkable and increase density. The station site recommended by the plan is adjacent to a shopping mall and apartment buildings as well as an interstate highway.

The urban design plan placed live-work units on the north side of a new walkable street connecting the station and the Coddingtown Mall with new multi-family housing. These units and street replace an existing carport and driveway. Parking structures are added for housing as well as the light rail station as density is added to the area.

Live-Work units are designed with garages or work spaces on the ground level with living areas above. A terrace is located on the second level between units to provide natural light and air for the units along the property line. Multi-family housing is designed with new streets on the existing mall parking lots with parking concentrated in new garages.