In the LA neighborhood of Echo Park, Bestor Architecture is bringing a new type of community-friendly, pedestrian-friendly development to the United States. The Blackbirds project is described by Barbara Bestor as introducing "stealth density" to the Echo Park neighborhood, imitating the size and roofline of the surrounding houses but incorporating multiple homes under one roof.
The design looks to the Dutch concept of the 'Woonerf', or living street, to propose a space which favors pedestrians and cyclists over cars, and features landscape design by Mia Lehrer + Associates, creating a communal space around which a 'micro-community' can thrive.
More on the design after the break
The scheme is a deliberate, European-inspired alternative to the typical detached homes and car-friendly streets that are the norm in LA neighborhoods. Led by the eco-conscious developer LocalConstruct, Blackbirds features an infill development of 18 single family homes.
Co-founder of LocalConstruct Casey Lynch said: "we’re not interested in the status quo. Starting at the local level we want to be a force in housing and how we rebuild our cities in the Western United States. Blackbirds is representative of our particular building ethos – build smart, think local."
The scheme also features a variety of eco-friendly measures such as drought-tolerant landscaping and semi-permeable driveways. It is scheduled for completion in early 2015.
