Crenshaw Gardens is a mixed use project of 49 dwelling units and 5,400 SF of ground floor commercial space located on Crenshaw Boulevard in anticipation of the Crenshaw light rail line to be completed in 2019. The site is surrounded by a diverse and chaotic mix of uses and typologies including convenience stores, empty lots, auto mechanic shops, churches, restaurants and single family homes. The adjacent neighborhood of Spanish Colonial style homes served as a subtle starting point for the design to tie the project into the residential dimension of the neighborhood. A modern simplified approach to the “Spanish” style was used, distilling the best aspects of the typology – solid massing with smooth white plaster, a central courtyard, arched openings, and lush landscaping all combine to create a sense of permanence and rest in a transitional and heavily trafficked area. A laser cut steel-tiled stair tower marks the entrance while creating a unique character defining element that residents and the community alike can identify with.