California firm LOHA has incorporated stepped terraces and outdoor corridors into this four-storey apartment building in Los Angeles.
The project, called Dillon617, is located in LA's Silver Lake neighbourhood, which has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years.

Once a "sleepy Eastside enclave", as described by local firm Lorcan O'Herlihy Architects (LOHA), the area is now filled with boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants that have enlivened the atmosphere.
Despite this evolution, the housing stock has remained mostly unchanged since the 1970s, according to LOHA. Residential streets tend to be dominated by low-scale housing, including single-family homes, duplexes and fourplexes.

"There is a need for much more density ? not only to keep up with demand, but also to retain a level of affordability in a housing market that has priced-out the majority of artists and ethnic communities responsible for giving the area its unique flair," the firm said. In response, LOHA has designed a 72,000-square-foot (6,689-square-metre) residential building that contains 49 units, ranging from studios to three-bedroom apartments.

Occupying a rectangular parcel, the building consists of two long bars that are placed side by side. Running between the four-storey bars is a sliver of open space that holds exterior walkways.
"This gesture creates a dynamic open space for the residents and brings light and air deeper into the building," LOHA said.

One ...