SAN ANDRES STUDENT HOUSING
Santa Barbara, CA
13,310 SF
2019

TGA designed this residential complex as a small neighborhood, linking seven new multifamily buildings with a communal outdoor “street” where residents can gather and socialize. To lend the development a distinctive identity that would attract future residents, the buildings reinterpret the Spanish Colonial Revival style in a contemporary architectural language. Shared exterior materials and similar detailing mark the buildings as a unified group, while unique elements — like towers, custom gable-end details, and hand-painted tiles — lend each its own identity.

Designed to advance Santa Barbara’s average unit density program, the unit mix includes 12 affordably-priced residences, offering growing families and local students the opportunity to live within easy walking distance of the downtown commercial district.

CREATING AN INVITING COMMUNITY ATMOSPHERE

An update on 20th-century courtyard housing developments, the design creates interconnections between living spaces and public areas to enrich the social fabric of the new development. The buildings’ stairways, balconies, and patios overlook the central street and recreation space, making the development feel like a lively and cohesive neighborhood.

LENDING EACH HOUSE UNIQUE CHARACTER

The houses features unique elements like hand-painted ornamental tiles, engaging local craft and giving each a distinct identity within the group.