American firm Lorcan O'Herlihy Architects has completed a housing block in Los Angeles that features a central courtyard and open-air stairwell lined with wooden slats and white wire mesh.
Situated in the heart of West Hollywood, the San Vicente 935 apartment complex is located on San Vicente Boulevard, between Santa Monica and Sunset Boulevards. Occupying a relatively deep, narrow lot, the four-storey building contains seven units, each with two bedrooms.

The project was designed by LA-based Lorcan O'Herlihy Architects, or LOHA, which has an extensive portfolio of multifamily buildings. For this project, the team reduced the allowable building envelope in order to provide a central courtyard.
"This new residential apartment building in West Hollywood follows up on LOHA's commitment to promoting thoughtful design through the typology of courtyard housing," the firm said in a project description.
Encompassing 9,200 square feet (855 square metres), the building consists of two blocks connected by a central courtyard and an open-air stairwell. The tall void not only breaks up the building's massing, but also helps encourage "social interaction and a sense of community between residents and visitors".

All apartments in the building have direct access to this central circulation zone, eliminating the need for enclosed climate-controlled hallways. Wooden screens help provide privacy and block direct sunlight. The courtyard offers seating areas, a water fe...