Markethouse Lofts
San Jose, Calif.
Steinberg Architects

Developer wedges apartments between railway line and warehouses

© Eric Figge

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The developers of Market House Lofts squeezed 53 apartments onto a narrow, 1.5-acre triangle of land abutting an active rail line. This in-fill site is located in an erstwhile industrial district of San Jose, Calif., which is fast transforming into a residential neighborhood. To imbue the property with an exciting sense of place, Steinberg Architects drew on the vernacular of the railway and nearby cannery buildings.

The architect grouped the apartments into five similar yet distinct buildings that symbolize a collection of boxcars; the smaller building size also helps mitigate vibration and noise caused by the passing trains. These groupings form a series of modulated exterior spaces that include the entry, a courtyard, passages, and a plaza. There are three different apartment layouts, each containing two levels. The architect based them on a “one-room house” concept, combining function and variety within a unified volume. Interior details include loft levels, open floor plans, and customizable features that provide maximum flexibility for residents.

Each façade presents its own slightly different character, while maintaining a similar architectural language through massing, materials, and detailing. The architect intended these elevations to resemble a series of layers that peel away to reveal the building’s contents. Shifts in building planes, accentuated by color placement, reduce the massing and provide a connection with the texture-rich brick industrial buildings nearby. The material palette of cement plaster, masonry block, and metal railing and awnings also draws from the surrounding industrial context.

Formal name of Project:
Markethouse Lofts

Location:
San Jose, Calif.

Gross square footage:
65,413 sq. ft.

Total construction cost:
$11.2 Million

Owner:
Regis Homes of Northern California
901 Mariners Island Blvd, #700
San Mateo, CA 94404
www.regishomesnc.com

Architect:
Steinberg Architects
60 Pierce Avenue
San Jose, CA 95110
408.295.5446
408.295.5928 fax
www.steinbergarchitects.com