Located in an emerging neighborhood of San Luis Obispo, the Creekston mixed-use development will be a vibrant, community-oriented addition that makes good use of its beautiful natural setting.
The site’s setting has no strong architectural precedent, besides typical strip commercial and light industrial buildings. This gave Pugh + Scarpa a good opportunity to develop a visual vocabulary for the neighborhood. Materials and finishes take their cue from the industrial influences in the area, in particular the prominent industrial building on Orcutt Road. Pugh + Scarpa’s background in urban design results in a vibrant, compelling streetscape that is the direct antithesis of a monotonous tract home development or isolated “gated community.” The Project is designed to strengthen the neighborhood’s visual identity, connect with the commercial nodes to enliven street life, and make the most of the natural beauty of the lot and its surroundings. Color becomes a tool for creating community identity—each cluster of single family homes shares a color, giving each group a distinct individual atmosphere. This approach animates the neighborhood, making it appealingly colorful and diverse, without appearing too busy. Although the emphasis is on density, building footprints are kept small, particularly in the single family homes, to preserve open space and prevent a crowded appearance. The site planning of the development is geared to integrate with and engage the surrounding environs, creating the feeling of a naturally grown addition to the community.
Environmentally-sensitive strategies are evident throughout the project. These include the preservation of the riparian habitat and a stormwater retention system that is recycled for site irrigation. Passive solar strategies are implemented throughout—a solar study analysis was performed to optimize daylighting and reduce solar heat gain. Buildings are shaped and oriented to maximize natural cross-ventilation. Avoiding monolithic structures and breaking up the massing of the site keeps it permeable, conducive to cross ventilation.
