Work | The Chung King Courtyard
This project began with an existing two story mixed-use building on Chung King Rd, a quiet pedestrian walk street in Los Angeles’ Chinatown district, with a series of art galleries lining the ground floors. The 1,200 SF second floor of this building held two cramped one-bedroom apartments lacking air and light and suffering from stifling heat.
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The project addressed these issues as well as the need for outdoor living space in a dense urban environment through the introduction of a courtyard. The pivoting doors provide a continuous indoor-outdoor experience.
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The apartment takes advantage of the natural convection current which occurs as warm air rises from the street, up the stairs, and out through the courtyard. All of the interior rooms facing the courtyard are designed to encourage cross-ventilation, achieving natural passive cooling.
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The living room, as experienced throughout the day with different configurations of the pivoting doors, maintains a strong connection to the exterior environment.
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The open kitchen flows continuously into the living areas.
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The diagrams delve into the design process of renovating the second floor of the building into a residence.
The primary focus of the design was to create an indoor-outdoor living experience and was achieved through an outdoor courtyard in the center of the plan with pivoting doors and windows.
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The master bedroom is designed to take full advantage of the courtyard, in terms of light, air and experience.
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The rear balcony provides additional garden space as well as spectacular views of the downtown skyline.
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Floor Plans
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The master bath takes maximum advantage of the private outdoor courtyard to provide an indoor-outdoor bathing experience.
PROJECT: The Chung King Courtyard
LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA
CLIENT: Private
YEAR: 2008
SIZE: 1,200 SF
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COLLABORATORS:
Structural: MBM, Inc.
TEAM: Ali Jeevanjee, Poonam Sharma
PHOTOGRAPHY: Christopher Culliton
PUBLICATIONS:
2013.06 Media Go-Round - One Time
2009.01 Los Angeles Times - Courtyard Home In L.A.'S Chinatown
2008.08 Planet Green - Renovation Nation
