Rosecrans
Affordable Live/Work Housing, Five Residences
Compton, California
office42 · Project Manager · 2021

Rosecrans is a five-unit affordable live/work development designed for a vacant site along Rosecrans Avenue in Compton. The project brings together five freestanding, two-story residences, each combining living and commercial space within a compact small-lot arrangement. Rather than reading as a single apartment building, the development is organized as a collection of individual homes, creating greater privacy and a stronger relationship between each residence and its outdoor space.

The long proportions of the site shaped the planning of the project. Doors, windows, landscape, and circulation were thoughtfully positioned to create separation between neighboring residences while maintaining light and desirable views. Private gardens and living terraces extend the homes outdoors, while drought-tolerant planting and trees with seasonal color soften the site and help establish a sense of privacy along Rosecrans Avenue and between the residences.

Developed while at office42, the project involved coordinating the Architectural Review Board submission for the City of Compton and working closely with the architect, designer, client, landscape consultant, and project team. As Project Manager, the role included code and site research, coordination of the evolving building and site design, organization and delegation of the submission package, drawing development, and assembling the final material submitted to the City for review.

The architecture was developed around an economical wood-frame construction system, with each residence defined by a butterfly roof and a restrained material palette. Standard construction dimensions, plaster finishes, and carefully selected colors supported an efficient approach while maintaining warmth, calm, and understated character. Architecture and landscape were considered together to make the compact development feel thoughtful, private, and connected to its surroundings.