ALBUQUERQUE, NM
La Placita Apartments
A new standard for contemporary New Mexican multifamily housing by acknowledging the region’s historic building tradition.
La Placita Apartments
ALBUQUERQUE, NM
The courtyard or placita typology consists of a central public open space around which dwelling units are arranged. Space-oriented, rather than object-oriented, courtyard housing prioritizes the public realm and social interaction. It is attractive to tenants as it offers an indoor/outdoor lifestyle, compact and low-maintenance layouts, and an increased sense of community.
Relatively unobtrusive, courtyard housing functions as missing-middle housing, filling an intermediate gap in scale between single-family homes and typical lifestyle multifamily complex that makes up the majority of new construction units in Albuquerque.
Through La Placita, this traditional typology will emerge as a viable, desirable, and necessary building type for Albuquerque’s continued growth and architectural identity.
A three-story mass fronts Chelwood Park Blvd. to the east while the project steps down to two-stories to the west, transitioning in scale to neighboring single-family neighborhood.
Deciduous shade trees and a small water feature in the courtyard will create a microclimate and respite from the summer sun, while residents can enjoy direct mountain views from all one and two-bedroom units.
Quant, comfortable, and true to regional development tradition, La Placita will redefine Albuquerque living and offer a new lifestyle product in the Chelwood Park submarket.
