Project: The Rose Apartments
Architecture: Brooks + Scarpa
Project Team: Lawrence Scarpa, Angela Brooks, Flavia Christi, George Faber, David Garcia, Carlos Garcia, Tod Funkhauser, Jeffrey Huber, Dionicio Ichillumpa, Iliya Muzychuk, Micaela Danko, Eric Mosher, Eleftheria Stavridi, Fui Srivkorn, Yimin Wu, Juan Villareal
Contractor: Walton Construction
Location: Venice, California, United States
Year: 2021
Photo Credits: Jeff Durkin
The Rose Apartments by Brooks + Scarpa is a new LEED Gold, four‐story, 35-unit building that offers 100% affordable housing for transitional-aged youths. It provides a safe, welcoming home for young adults who might otherwise face homelessness.
A Community-Focused Home
When young people “term out” at 18 and leave youth facilities, many end up on the streets. Rose Apartments gives them a place to live. The building is located in Venice, just a short walk from shops, restaurants, and even the beach. Its location means no car is needed for daily life.
Design Inspired by Tradition
The design takes cues from Horatio Court, built in 1919 by Irving Gil. It uses an elevated courtyard above ground-level commercial space. This courtyard design has a long history in Los Angeles. It creates a central space that feels safe and inviting. As Ken Bernstein once said, courtyard apartments “make you feel like you belong to a place.” In Rose Apartments, the central court brings neighbors together and offers both privacy and community.
Unique and Inviting Features
Rose Apartments avoids the typical solid walls and fences. Instead, it features a carved-out, raised central court that celebrates social space. Strategically placed windows and exterior walkways guide residents to common areas. The building’s design connects the 35 apartments visually and spatially with the street below. In addition, the façade is finished in exterior cement plaster. The walls are scalloped to add depth and texture. A surface-applied sparkle grain makes the façade shimmer in the sunlight, bending light and casting dynamic shadows throughout the day.
Smart Use of Density and Materials
By including affordable housing for transitional-aged youths, the developer took advantage of California State Assembly Bill AB763. This increased the project density from an average of about 20.64 units per acre to over 90 units per acre. The building also includes 2,000 square feet of office space for a non-profit service provider. Together, these features help serve low-income tenants in an affluent area where housing is in short supply.
Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Design
Rose Apartments was built with a strong focus on energy and resource efficiency. Passive design strategies guide natural ventilation and maximize daylight. The roof is “solar-ready” and already features solar panels to reduce energy use. A stormwater management system captures and treats rainwater, while low-flow fixtures cut water use by about 38%. These sustainable measures reduce utility costs and lower the building’s environmental impact.
Encouraging Social Connection and Well-Being
The project was designed to support a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly community. With most tenants not owning cars, the building offers ample bike parking and reduced vehicular spaces. A large bike room and short-term guest bike spots encourage alternative transportation. The building’s public courtyard is lifted above the street, creating a safe edge and a secure passage from the street to each apartment. Exterior stairs and an open elevator lobby further promote social interaction. In all, Rose Apartments provides a warm, community-oriented space that balances private living with shared public areas.
Community Involvement and Urban Impact
The design process involved multiple public meetings with community groups, the Venice Neighborhood Council, and the Los Angeles Planning Commission. Although neighborhood groups have often opposed affordable housing projects, Rose Apartments shows that housing based on the principles of Housing First, Harm Reduction, and Design Equity can work in any neighborhood. The project not only provides much-needed housing but also revitalizes the area and serves as a model for social and environmental design.
A Model for the Future
In summary, The Rose Apartments by Brooks + Scarpa is a beacon of affordable, sustainable, and community-focused design. It offers safe and dignified housing for transitional-aged youths in a vibrant, amenity-rich area of Venice. With its thoughtful design and smart use of space, materials, and technology, the project stands as a powerful example of how modern architecture can promote social equity, environmental sustainability, and a strong sense of community.
