The project, known as 26th and Santa Monica Family Housing, was commissioned by Community Corporation of Santa Monica, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing housing to lower wage working families.

The complex was completed in April 2007. It houses two- and three-bedroom units, with rents ranging from approximately $500 to $900 a month. The units are fully occupied.

Sited on a busy intersection in the city, the $15 million complex is sometimes mistaken for market-rate condominiums due to its contemporary appearance. An inner courtyard takes advantage of ocean breezes and natural sunlight, while helping to foster interaction with neighbors. On the outside, the project features a playful mural at street level along Santa Monica Boulevard. Balconies for the units are each framed with an individual vibrant color.

The exterior at 26th and Santa Monica Family Housing also incorporates HardiePlank lap siding. Project Manager Maegan Winning says the organization is extremely pleased with the award-winning design, and praised the fiber cement material. "We were really happy with it," she says, "it worked really well." She says the installation of the Hardie product "was one of the easier things we did."

The housing development was one of 13 projects worldwide to be recognized in 2008 with an Institute Honor Award for the Architecture category. Other recipients include the recently-completed renovation for the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles and the new world headquarters for Heifer International, located in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Commenting on the winning entries, AIA Jury chair said, "In the final 13 the jury found themselves fascinated at the craftsmanship in intimate and very personal projects, while simultaneously impressed with the bravura expression in major new projects, and the intelligent restoration of several historically significant buildings," said Jury chair Peter G. Kuttner, FAIA. "This year, more than ever, the award recipients proved that inventive sustainable approaches and the highest caliber design can mesh beautifully in the right hands."

26th and Santa Monica Family Housing was designed by Santa Monica-based Kanner Architects, a 62-year-old firm run by third generation architect Stephen H. Kanner, FAIA.

The project was financed through a combination of city funds, tax credits and bank financing.

For more information on Community Corporation of Santa Monica, visit: http://www.communitycorp.org

For more information on Kanner Architects, visit: http://www.kannerarch.com/en/

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: John Linden, John Linden Photography

Streetscapes Online, Volume 22 <