8th + Yakima Flats
Tacoma, WA
8th + Yakima Flats is WC STUDIO architect’s latest Missing Middle multifamily housing project design. Now in for building permit review, we anticipate construction to start early Spring 2021. The infill apartment building with 17 one-bedroom units arranged around a landscaped courtyard will replace a currently vacant 6500 square foot parcel near downtown Tacoma.
The south-facing courtyard features two trees, native shrubs and groundcover, and sprays of color from blooming perennials throughout the year. The building floor plan was designed so that a majority of the apartments would have direct courtyard access. Twelve of the units face onto the building’s courtyard, three with private patios at ground level, four with large covered decks suspended above. The remaining units have sliding glass patio doors with “Juliet” balconies opening onto either the courtyard or a public way. These generously proportioned openings and outdoor living space extensions make the compact homes feel spacious. Raised planters in the courtyard serve as seating and define the edges of private and shared outdoor space. The tree canopy interrupts sightlines between apartments and provides white noise from leaves rustling in the breeze.
All of the apartments are designed as flats, with the exception of the two units with street-level entrances fronting Yakima Ave. These two-story units have a live-work flex-space at grade with a sleeping loft above. The double-height space created by holding the upper level back from the front facade buffers the sleeping area from street activity and sound, while maintaining a level of transparency or “eyes on the street” that fosters neighborhood safety.
The main building entrance welcomes residents and visitors into a backlit wood-clad alcove, a beacon after dark with its lantern-like appearance. The upper stories are wrapped in durable and low-maintenance corrugated metal, in effect a black box lifted off its base. Perforated metal screens at the balcony guardrails add a punchy yellow accent and texture to the facades.
