A small lot subdivision could add gentle density to a Mid-City neighborhood currently consisting of mostly single-family homes.
The proposed development, located at 5219 West 20th Street, would replace an existing 1930s bungalow with five three-story residences showcasing contemporary architecture. The attached homes would each contain a two-car garage, three to four bedrooms, and a sprawling roof deck with built-in planters and barbecue grills.
Conceived by Archimorphic, a Los Angeles and Shanghai-based architecture and design firm, the 7,500-square-foot site would be “subdivided into five individual, fee-simple lots in an effort to increase density within the city as the population rapidly increases,” reads the team’s website.
The proposed project fits with the scale of the neighborhood and connects to the pedestrian realm through a front setback that includes a chokecherry tree, concrete pavers, and a slatted wood and concrete fence that semi-encloses the space.
Each two-car garage offers one standard and one compact space with interior access to a small foyer and staircase. Lot 1 features a slightly different layout with a first-floor bedroom and ensuite bathroom in addition to its street-facing garage.
Two secondary bedrooms and a principal suite would occupy the second floor along with a convenient laundry closet. The principal suite is ultra-luxe, complete with a walk-in closet, private balcony, and a soaker tub in the ensuite.
One of the secondary bedrooms would also have a balcony that looks over the rooflines of the neighboring houses. Meantime, Lot 1 would include only two bedrooms on this level, each with its own ensuite bath, and a roomier walk-in closet and balcony in the principal suite.
The main living area is on the third floor, touting a peninsula kitchen with plenty of prep space and breakfast bar seating. There’s an open-concept dining and living area, as well as a powder room and coat closet. Lot 1, which projects farther than the other homes, would also incorporate a guest bedroom, ensuite bathroom and private balcony.
Upstairs is the expansive roof deck, which could accommodate plush seating and a dining table. Each home has a barbecue counter and planters that will display colorful, drought-tolerant species. All of the homes will have glass balcony guardrails for unobstructed views of the surrounding area.
Exteriors will be clad in hardwood siding with painted plaster in shades of white and grey. Unconventional window shapes and placements create architectural interest and fill the interiors with natural light. “The material palette breaks down the larger massing to a human-scale and adds warmth,” explains the Archimorphic website.
If approved, residents of the small lot subdivision will live close to the many cafes and restaurants of Picfair Village, big-box retailers and grocery stores near Dockweiler, and the contemporary galleries and furniture showrooms of the Culver City Arts District.
