Description

The Fruitvale District to the south-east of the centre of Oakland is a predominantly Hispanic quarter, which is reflected in the population, shops, businesses and cultural activities. Along the main traffic route through the quarter, between commercial and industrial buildings and housing, is an ensemble of five historical buildings from 1912 that have been renovated for use as affordable housing for people of all ages, from young families to older generations.

The Neo-Georgian building previously housed a care home for the elderly, closed at the end of the 1970s as it no longer met the medical standards and safety requirements of the time. Today, the five-storey brick building contains 84 apartments for low-income elderly residents. The apartments are airy and brightly lit with high ceilings and a range of quite different floor plans. The housing is conceived for elderly residents who are still able to live independently. Medical and social facilities as well as joint activities are additionally available. Extensive communal areas and gardens offer opportunities for recreation, relaxation and communication.

The remaining four historical buildings have been augmented by a new, four-storey, L-shaped building. The historical wall that runs around the entire site has been retained and incorporated into the design of the new building to form its plinth. This building contains 62 rented apartments for families on low incomes.

The new building creates a connection between inside and outside: the balconies and windows overlook both the courtyard and the street, while the ground floor level is made accessible via stairs and small patios. Frequent entrances and open sections make the building permeable, presenting an inviting, friendly frontage to the street.

The revitalisation of the complex is a real-life example of the potential of reactivating commercial and industrial urban quarters. By inserting new buildings to increase density, opening up building frontages and creating new connections, the quarter gains both vitality and security, improving the quality of public space.

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Originally published in: Eckhard Feddersen, Insa Lüdtke, Living for the Elderly: A Design Manual, second and revised edition, Birkhäuser, 2017.