mediation wall

In a place like Van Nuys where airports and Metro stations are literally dividing communities and recreational centers are far and few, mediation wall fosters belonging, activity and empathy through public and communal shared space. This spatial scheme was designed to bring together four levels of community: within the two units, within the row of two homes, within the entire development, and within the neighborhood at large. The goal was to create a park-like atmosphere into a multi-family family development in order to provide a chance for informal interactions between neighbors with many amenities including:

two outdoor dining areas, two BBQs, two hydration stations, ten unique sitting zones, a pool, a central stage with lighting, a movie theater, a playground, an urban gym, a library, an outdoor fireplace, a climbing wall, a hammock lounge, a communal mailbox, a two second-story sitting areas to take in the view, two mural wall for local artists, groves of trees, putting green, sand pit, dog park, pond, and walking path.

These amenities are a continuation of the central wall of the units that houses the circulation, kitchen, storage, and restrooms) meant to bring two strangers together, such that all the units are connected by “zones” of activities that facilities interactions between all four levels of community. And, as the community grows and changes, the each unit could be divided into two apartments, shared as one large single family home, and the ends are left open for more units to be built, more amenities to be added, and more people to share the space with. Ultimately, these facilities mean that a multi-family complex is not a last resort, but a Resort.

This set also includes interior shots of the units in mediation wall as a standalone duplex.