MacDonald Architects' Buildings

Frank G. Mar Community Housing, Oakland, California:

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		The Frank G. Mar Community Housing development is a mixed-use project consisting of 119 low-income and elderly housing units situated over 12,500 square feet of street-front commercial space, a 3,000 child care center and 275 parking spaces.
Overview of complex

This project is presently featured as a National Building Museum's affordable housing online exhibit - entitled Designing an American Asset.

Located in downtown Oakland, the project was designed as an urban village featuring pitched roofs which evoke the traditional American image of a home. A mid-rise tower contains units primarily occupied by seniors while families occupy townhouses oriented to private courtyards at the plaza level.

Axonometric (left); Aerial photograph of "urban village" (upper right)

Plaza level floor plan (left); Street overview of family units (right)

Playground structure in courtyard (left); and corridor view of yards (right)