By Matthew Power Intended to reflect the style of a boutique hotel, this luxury apartment project, located in the Hollywood studio area of Santa Monica, includes 350 rental units, which range in size from small studios (612 square feet) to penthouse suites (1,555 square feet), and rent for $1,655 to $4,465. Nearly 100 of the apartments meet Santa Monica’s definition of affordable housing.
The walled, gated project includes 10,000 square feet of retail space, including coffee shops, restaurants, and dry cleaning. In addition, The Plaza offers residents numerous amenities, including two pools and a spa, a private clubhouse, child play areas, and a large separate parking area.
Architect Kevin Newman used courtyards and tree-shrouded water parks to create outdoor relaxation spaces that still feel private despite seven floors of apartments looming overhead. In this ultra-high-density (98 units per acre) development, trees double as camouflage for the steel fence that spans the project’s perimeter.
Category: Infill community; Entrant/Architect/Land Planner: Kaufman Meeks + Partners, Newport Beach, Calif.; Builder/ Developer: Legacy Partners-So. Calif., Irvine, Calif.; Landscape Architect: HRP LanDesign, Santa Ana, Calif.; Interior Designer: Faulkner Design Group, Dallas
| Photo: Steve Hinds Photography |