yanonali court, santa barbara, calif.

jeffrey berkus architects and b3 architects, aspen, colo., and santa barbara

This Santa Barbara, Calif., infill project stands out for achieving LEED Platinum and doubling the area's typical density, but it also blends smoothly with the neighborhood's Spanish Colonial style and single-family house profile. Jeffrey Berkus, AIA, eased the tight proximity of five houses on a quarter acre of land by including ample public and private outdoor space. “Creating privacy was a big issue,” Berkus explains. “Our main way of accomplishing that was through strategic window placement and plantings, along with well-located terraces, balconies, and roof decks.” In addition to individual outdoor areas, Berkus devised alluring shared spaces.

His efforts didn't go unnoticed by our jury, who commended the project's “great site plan” and “nicely handled entry court.”

principal in charge / project architect: Jeffrey Berkus, AIA, Jeffrey Berkus Architects and B3 Architects
general contractor: Steven Berkus, Berkus Construction, Santa Barbara, Calif.
developers: Del Mar Development of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, and Berkus Construction, Santa Barbara
interior designer: Dana Berkus, Dana Berkus Interiors, Santa Barbara
project size: 937 square feet to 2,039 square feet per unit
site size: 0.28 acre
construction cost: $450 per square foot
sales price: $1.2 million to $2.6 million per unit
units in project: 5
photography: Jim Bartsch