M:OME Modern Sustainable Living in the Bridge Street Neighborhood

Buildings currently constitute the single largest energy consuming human creation, with the simple consequence that the sustainability of the built environment has a major impact on the global ecosystem.” Catherine Slessor, Physics and Phenomenology, 2001(1) I. The mission is simple: create modern affordable housing that belongs to its climate and region, sustains itself and its owners while supporting community and environment alike. The aim of this paper is to delineate changing practice models within the profession by focusing on an affordable, sustainable, medium-sized mixed-use housing and commercial planned urban development in a small California City on the Central Coast. To achieve the seemingly incongruous aims of affordability, environmental sensitivity and modernity in a parochial town, the architects had to shift roles to become non-profit developers and community activists. In other words, the market could not provide what the architects needed to achieve, so they had to develop the project themselves. The paper will look into the 2.5 year process just to achieve the entitlements to begin the design development and construction documents process. “It’s developers who are willing to push new concepts like Bridge Street that ultimately move those ideas into the mainstream.” Jennifer Seal, Rocky Mountain Institute(2)

Volume Editors
David Covo & Gabriel Mérigo Basurto

ISBN
0-935502-57-2