Blue Water

Key Facts

• calendar_month

  2010

  Designed

• measuring_tape

  3 ac.

  Project Size

• account_circle

  Gorman & Company

  Client

Program

• house

  36

  Units

About Blue Water

Using a patented system of interlocking single-story courtyard homes, this 36-unit project provides a compact and accessible alternative for high-density affordable housing.

Comprising three blocks in Tavernier Key, FL, this 2.7-acre project utilizes a patented (US006574931-B2) building system of floor plans tightly interwoven for maximum density, accessibility, and construction savings. At 13.3 du /acre, this 36-unit community markedly differs from other affordable housing projects that rely on multilevel buildings with higher construction and maintenance budgets. These one-story cottages respect the surrounding single-family context, meeting setback and height requirements with no variances.
The necessary 54 parking spaces occur along neighborhood-scaled streets, as opposed to one communal lot. Each unit’s separate street address is reinforced with a distinct entryway framed by gabled parapets, a feature honoring the architecture of a beloved nearby restaurant and inn compound. The courtyard unit plans dovetail each other for optimal space efficiency and range from a 1-bed/ 1-bath to a 4-bed/ 2-bath, accommodating the multi-generational needs of singles, couples and families. Private outdoor courtyards are complemented by a shared children’s playground.

Cost-benefits derived from single-story construction and the interlocking project’s lower exterior wall/unit ratio are supplemented by: single-pour slabs on grade; same-height perimeter tie-beams; tilt-up, precast gables; standardized roof-trusses and door/ window sizes; and one kitchen layout. Seeking LEED certification, the project features skylights and courtyards to promote cross-ventilation and maximize daylight; a retention pond for onsite rainwater runoff filtration; xeriscape plantings requiring no irrigation; energy/resource efficient appliances and plumbing fixtures, low-VOC paints, and an onsite recycling center.

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