AMBASSADOR HOUSING

Between a bustling elevated freeway and quiet pedestrian zones in Emeryville sits 80,000 square feet of affordable housing for the non-profit organization, Resources for Community Development (RCD). Among the goals was balancing the new buildings with the widely varying surroundings, which include other residences of different scales as well as expansive retail areas. To that end, on the RCD property, single-family types of bungalows coexist with smaller townhouse-style units, while a larger five-story complex features a colorful accent wall. Industrial materials such as Corten steel and corrugated metal siding, together with special acoustic detailing and an interior courtyard, insulate residents from the noisy urban environs.

J. Conner for Kava Massih Architects
Photographed by Bruce Damonte