Page 28 - ArchDC_Spring 2021

Façades at the alley and courtyard use inexpensive
fiber-cement siding as their primary cladding material,
a move that helps “pay” for the signature street
façade, with its distinctive sculptural elements. The
checkerboard composition of projecting balconies
and deep-set windows in off-white brick, black metal,
warm-toned wood, and glass is a standout on the
block, immediately grabbing the attention of passersby.
The architects refer to the elements as “voids and
extrusions,” said Hirst. “It’s how the city might look in
an aerial view.”
In contrast with the urban norm of strict separation
of interior and exterior spaces, those voids and
extrusions deliberately blur the boundary. Windows
completely fill the frames, and at the balconies (the
“extrusions”), glass railings block as little of the view as
possible—both in and out. The balconies are like jewel
boxes, with LED strips separating black metal exterior
shells and wood interior walls and ceilings. The LED
strips are programmable to any color in the RGB scale,
providing each owner an opportunity for individual
expression, or, as Hirst noted, the ability to coordinate
displays with their neighbors for a unified expression.
The “voids” are deep returns of the brick jambs and
heads. The building’s main entrance is a hybrid of
the two.
These are not cheap facades, nor easily
constructed. For example, although the extrusions
appear completely plumb and square, subtle slopes and
proper flashings were painstakingly incorporated to Dining and living area of a street-facing unit.
provide necessary drainage. But the developer “loved
the design immediately,” said Hirst, “and worked
to make it happen.” Inside, kitchens have a frame
of matching wood, a detail as exceptionally nice as
it is rare in speculative construction. In general, the
interiors are minimalist in their detailing.
The name Kozo, which means “structure” in
Japanese, came about well after the design was
established. The name, in fact, was inspired by the
street façade, which the developer felt had a Japanese
character to it. The “architectural bonsai” sculpture
that graces the front yard was commissioned to further
the connection. It’s a final grace note, suggesting to
observers that, with efficient planning and a little
design amibition, not only is execution of missing
middle housing possible, but it can even afford
evocative cultural touches.

Typical street-facing balcony.

26 MISSING MIDDLE MADE MOD