Stanford University Housing Conceptual Planning and Design
Stanford University Housing is a transit-oriented development offering a variety of market-rate housing options that welcome a diversity of residents, including Stanford University staff. Located near Stanford’s Arboretum and a Cal Train Station, the housing development eschews the homogeneity of large development projects, and has the look and feel of a place that has evolved over time. The multibuilding plan picks up the architectural legacy of Stanford University and elevates the experience of the Arboretum to create a memorable and connected sense of home. At this project the threshold between nature and built environment is crisp and immediate, heightening one’s experience of place and time, scale and beauty.
The master plan and conceptual design propose three different architectural character types— Stanford Urban Quad, Tower, and Arboretum Picturesque—each finely tuned to their site conditions. The character types address height, density, relationship to open space and views, and connection to transit and amenities in different ways and are organized across the site to create a sense of incremental development experienced in more urban environments.
The mid-rise Stanford Urban Quad type humanizes the long perimeter and energizes the streetscape with porch and stoop entries. A colonnade around the landscaped quad provides a sheltered outdoor space and encourages casual engagement with embedded retail. The Tower is centrally located on site to mask the overall height and maximizes unit volume by predominately housing micro units. To create a shared collective experience for residents, common spaces such as large living rooms and kitchens are integrated throughout the building. The Arboretum Picturesque type embraces the adjacent woodland with a low-rise massing that nestles multibedroom residences within tree canopy. Featuring distinct private space for each unit, Arboretum Picturesque is tailored towards families and is deeply rooted in the landscape.