Neighborhood Commons

A double-height lobby connects the street to the shared courtyard, while daylit circulation cores — stairs, bridges, and shared corridors — transform movement through the building into a social experience. Balconies, deep overhangs, and planted edges respond to Bay Area climate while extending the living space outward.

Neighborhood Commons rethinks medium-density housing by centering shared space as the organizing principle. Rather than maximizing unit count, the project prioritizes the quality of transition — from street to courtyard, courtyard to threshold, threshold to home. The courtyard becomes the social heart of the building, connecting residents to each other and to their neighborhood.

Unit plans are designed around generous kitchens and living areas that open onto private balconies. Materials are chosen for longevity and tactile warmth — board-formed concrete, cedar screens, and standing-seam metal roofing. Common spaces for gathering, work, and daily use are distributed throughout the building, ensuring community feels woven into everyday life.