SITED IN ENCINITAS, CALIFORNIA, anD WITHIN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN, THIS APARTMENT PROJECT includes a 338 stall parking structure LINED WITH 202 RESIDENTIAL UNITS, and about 7,163 SQUARE FEET OF RESIDENT AMENITIES. FROM INCEPTION THE DESIGN OBJECTIVE WAS to create timeless architecture that seamlessly integrates into THE natural surroundings. THIS GOAL WAS ACHIEVED IN the following ways. First, the building is set into the natural slope with retaining walls at the back edge of the property. tHE RESULT BEING A REDUCED BUILDING HEIGHT RELATIVE TO THE STREET. SECOND, THE SITE PLANNING INCLUDES A LANDSCAPED PARK EXTENDING THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE BUILDING. hEREIN, NATIVE TREE AND PLANT SPECIES, ROLLING HILLS, AND PEDESTRIAN TRAILS ACT AS A BUFFER BETWEEN THE BUILDING EDGE AND THE STREET. A THIRD STRATEGY TO FIT THE BUILDING INTO ITS NATURAL SURROUNDINGS IS THE STEPPING OF THE BUILDING AT THE CORNERS. BUILDING HEIGHTS AT THE CORNERS WERE REDUCED BY ONE LEVEL, AND PROGRAMMED AS ROOF DECK AMENITY AREAS FOR THE RESIDENTS. aDDITIONALLY, OTHER AREAS WERE TERRACED IN PLAN TO CREATE A MORE ORGANIC BUILDING FORM WHICH MIMICS THE SITE’S TOPOGRAPHICAL CONDITION. THE FINAL DESIGN STRATEGY WAS SITE PLANNING 2 GENEROUSLY SIZE COURTYARDS WHICH BREAK THE FACADE ALONG THE STREET FRONT. AT THE WEST OF THE PROJECT SITE, A COURTYARD WAS PLACED TO FUNCTION AS A VEHICULAR MOTORCOURT, WHILE ON THE EAST OF THE SITE, THE COURTYARD FUNCTIONS AS A GENEROUSLY-SIZED RESIDENT POOL AMENITY AREA. AS A RESULT OF IMPLEMENTING THESE DESIGN STRATEGIES, THE PROJECT IS PERCEIVED AS AN EXTENSION OF THE HILLSIDE, AND THE NATURAL SURROUNDINGS RATHER THEN A MORE OBTRUSIVE ARCHITECTURAL SPECTACLE.