The eclectic feel of the immediate adjacent context expresses a loosely defined identity of the Cortez Hill neighborhood; it is not rooted in a specific architectural style. Additionally, this site is a prominent corner that greets many people entering downtown San Diego. Our team capitalized on this unique circumstance and looked inward to the project’s intended purpose and user group for design inspiration that would welcome residents, visitors, and those passing by. The building would be centered around communal space for residents to enjoy city views and connect with one another. We also used this opportunity to improve the street frontage and pedestrian experience by grounding the building with playful geometries, materials, and vegetation.
Affirmed Housing
The Helm
Vision
Affirmed Housing creates communities that provide safe, clean, and affordable housing for sensitive families and individuals experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. With support from the City of San Diego’s Bridge to Home program, Affirmed set plan for a new community in the Cortez neighborhood. The Cortez neighborhood is Downtown’s oldest residential neighborhood and home to historic landmarks. Sited adjacent to Interstate 5, Balboa Park, the city’s Civic Core, and Little Italy, this pocket of Cortez Hill is ideal for more planned housing, particularly affordable housing, to serve San Diegans.
The Site
Our team played with massing options composed of a primary off-white volume and secondary darker-colored volumes wedged within and around it. Exterior architectural language responds to the prominent intersection of Front and Beech Streets. This busy corner is celebrated with a long dark frame that juts away from the primary building mass and denotes interior amenity spaces. A large carved-out void on the building’s west face allows residents to enjoy views toward Little Italy from their units and creates space for a rooftop patio that sits within the void. Each façade is unique and responds to its own view corridor and streetscape.
Elevated Interiors
We enlivened interior spaces with vibrant wall graphics and environmental branding, eclectic lighting and finishes, and furnishing one might expect from a high-end residence, redefining the expectations of affordable housing. Residents also have access to complementary, on-site services including computer training and resume building programs and programs promoting health and wellness.
Plinth Presence
The Helm meets the ground on a solid, dark blue mass, elevating it above the business of Front Street. Playful textures for doors, gates, and signage as well as new planters and trees soften the street plinth and add to a vibrant pedestrian experience. Warm tones of faux wood complement the dark blue base and dark steel balconies above.
Project Gallery
