charles marr...

Together with his project team, Charles encouraged the developer towards a compact walk-able urban design approach, centering on a hybrid project with multiple building types (commercial block, commercial mixed-use, and a courtyard building, all on the same lot), and several different unit types (commercial flats, residential flats, penthouse lofts, live-work lofts, row houses, lane-way houses, and townhouses.

They also worked with the City of San Buenaventura to create a new mid-block alley, for several reasons.  One, the adjacent city owned parking lot provided an existing curb cut for the alley reinforcing the city’s notion of compact walk-able streets, and providing an alley entrance to the subterranean garage.  Two, the alley also became an opportunity for lane-way housing to front onto it comprising the notion of “eyes on the street”.  Instead of turning our backs on it, we chose to make it an amenity for the pedestrian and the neighborhood by creating it as a narrow street with lighting, landscaping, stoops and dooryards. 

For Charles, sustainable design starts with incorporating good urban design and urban planning principles to enhance the neighborhood by responding in intelligent ways to the patterns and fabric already there.  Such as, transit opportunities, parks, bike paths, existing vegetation, and topography.  Likewise, he is committed to sustainable design as integral to, and inseparable from, his process.  From site design and selection through to construction Charles believes sustainable design is a means to create more vibrant diverse communities and healthier buildings to live and work in.

 

Mixed-Use

Commercial

Airport

Work Place

Hospitality

Restaurant & Retail

Residential

Education