Norton Towers-On-The-Court
West Hollywood, Calif.
Lehrer Architects LA

Glass towers become beacon of urban infill

© Tom Bonner

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The City of West Hollywood has a rich history of single- and multi-family housing organized around shared courtyards. Planners are committed to preserving and expanding this heritage. In designing the six-unit Norton-on-the-Court townhouses, Lehrer Architects' goal was to maximize light, gardens and a sense of intimacy, while also infusing the building with grandeur and luxury.

The architects faced an added challenge of working within only a 50-foot wide lot, 22 feet of which was dedicated open space. (The building's footprint is 28 feet wide; the width between party walls is 18 feet and the five-story units range in size from 1,800 to 2,200 square feet.) Lehrer's solution was to give every townhouse a four-story glass tower that allows daylight to penetrate deep into each unit. The towers also bring light, views, drama and interconnectedness to each of the townhouse levels; at night they become illuminated lanterns.

In keeping with the city's desires, Lehrer's other goal in designing Norton-on-the-Court was to create a new typology for green urban infill buildings. To that end, all units in Norton-on-the-Court are bathed in natural light and use environmentally-friendly finishes. The project advances urbanism, moreover, by pulling its main wall back from the street and into the void of the courtyard through the use of color, setbacks and massing.

Formal name of Project:
Norton Towers-On-The-Court

Location:
West Hollywood

Gross square footage:
11,750 sq. ft.

Total construction cost:
$2.2 million

Owner:
Norton Court, LLC. Jonathan Lehrer-Graiwer

Architect:
Lehrer Architects LA
2227 Talmadge Street
Los Angeles, California 90027
p. 323-664-4747
f. 323-664-3566
www.lehrerarchitects.com