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A diagonally angled partition forms the organizing principle of the plan, visually elongating and enlarging the space and dividing a public lower level from a slightly raised private upper level. Wood and stone flooring and low rugs were selected for ease of navigability. The diagonal wall is paneled with sanded HomasoteŽ recycled-paper wallboard, which provides acoustic dampening in the absence of heavier carpeting.

The kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom include cabinetry and counters that allow the owner to approach head-on. The kitchen also includes an eye-level oven, drawer-style dishwashers, cabinets with pull-down shelves, and an inexpensive aluminum rub-rail at the toe kick to protect the wood cabinets from wheelchair damage. Two levels of counters allow food preparation from both standing and seated positions, welcoming visitors to participate.

A niche built into the wall next to the toilet provides an alternative to the standard toilet grab bar. The shower curb was eliminated; the shower area slopes in a single plane to a trough drain.

Doorways were generally avoided and, where used, were adaptive: A wide, lightweight acrylic sliding panel serves as a door for the main bathroom, and a fabric curtain covers a clothes closet.

The project previously received a special housing award in the 2007 AIA Housing Awards.

Affordable Design

K Lofts, a nine-unit project in downtown San Diego, California, designed and developed by Jonathan Segal, FAIA, was recognized for excellence in affordable housing design.

Built on a 9,000-square-foot (840-square-meter) urban property in the Golden Hill area, the building integrates a former Circle K convenience store and gas station to minimize deconstruction. The project was built at a cost of $82 per square foot ($882 per square meter), without governmental subsidy.

K Lofts includes a mixture of very-low-income affordable and market-rate rental units. Each unit boasts large private outdoor spaces and oversized glazing.

Architect-developer Segal worked closely with the community for nine months in a participatory design process, seeking to enhance the building's human scale, promote social interaction, and create defensible space. The development also produces some renewable energy for its own use.

The project previously received a multifamily housing award in the 2006 AIA Housing Awards.

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SUBSCRIPTION SAMPLE The Patrolia Loft by Ruhl Walker Architects was recognized for excellence in accessible design. Photo: Greg Premru Photography Extra Large Image The kitchen of Patrolia Loft, in Boston. Photo: Greg Premru Photography Extra Large Image SUBSCRIPTION SAMPLE Patrolia Loft shower. Photo: Greg Premru Photography Extra Large Image Because Patrolia Loft was designed from the start to accommodate the owner's mobility limitations, the accessible features are integral to the design. Photo: Greg Premru Photography Extra Large Image Patrolia Loft plan and section drawings. Image: Ruhl Walker Architects Extra Large Image Ground-floor plan and section drawings of K Lofts, a nine-unit building in San Diego. Image: Jonathan Segal FAIA Architect Extra Large Image K Lofts by Jonathan Segal, FAIA received an award for excellence in affordable housing design. Photo: Paul Body Partly an adaptive reuse project, K Lofts was built at a cost of $82 per square foot ($882 per square meter). Photo: Paul Body Extra Large Image   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.