Compositional Basics An internal courtyard is defined by the sequential arrangement of a low trellis, one story public spaces, two story offices, and a tall stair tower. Cantelevered covered balconies provide continuous circulation.
Light and Shadow Wide eaves, with exposed rafter tails, provide shade and rhythmic shadow lines. Covered balconies provide shade and depth upstairs, and deep shadow lines below. Tall windows and doors with two-foot transoms offer exceptional skyline, mountain, and tree views, and admit an abundance of light. Deep set windows and doors provide shadow lines and a sense of thick plaster. Trellises create dramatic shadow lines.
Hierarchy Material hierarchy (white plaster, light wood eaves and exposed framing, wrought iron accents, red tile roof); Spacial hierarchy (low entry trellis, one story public spaces, two story offices, tall stair tower are ordered to blend and contrast); Functional hierarchy (important spaces have vaulted ceilings and are accessed via exterior covered walkways; all spaces are oriented around, and take advantage of, the central courtyard).
Indoor-Outdoor Entire building is folded around a central courtyard; Couryard functions as an outdoor lobby and meeting space; Interior spaces are oriented towards the courtyard and the surroundiing mountain views;
Materialality With the use of quality materials (carefully selected full brick, colored concrete, smooth-troweled plaster, wrought iron, and landscaping) a simple traditional composition creates lively and pleasant working environment
Scale Fourteen foot ceilings are proportioned with two foot continuous transoms, eight foot doors and windows, and a ten foot surrounding arcade. The Courtyard acts as a foreground element that sets the building back, masking its overall 35 foot height.
Population The courtyard is meant to engage the surrounding district; and by plaicng it directly on the corner the entire district is invited to participate
The Citrus Valley Association of Realtors (CVAR) Plaza is located in Glendora on Route 66, and is within the City’s Route 66 Specific Plan. Its Spanish styling was chosen to compliment the historic Route 66 design vocabulary not in reference to California’s 1950’s automobile culture, but in reference to California’s 1930’s classic Spanish Colonial architectural heritage. This building was meant to look as though it had always been here, when Route 66 was perhaps still a dirt road.
Sketchbook and Computer Modeling The project is a masterful example of light and shadow, courtyard orientation, balanced and varied massing, color and material, and passage and movement. During the design process, preliminary sketches, computer drawings, and computer models all assisted in exploring, and exploiting, the building’s potential. The resulting site photographs are strikingly similar to the original vision and intent.
Site and Design
The project is a courtyard-oriented plan utilizing a Spanish Colonial design vocabulary. Around the central courtyard is arrayed an entry trellis, one-story meeting and support spaces, two-story offices and lobby, covered walkways and cantelevered balconies, and culminates in a central stair tower. The tower acts as a signal beacon with signage visible from the street; the entry trellis, covered balconies, and upstairs patio trellis create dynamic shadow lines and a rich depth and texture.