Mountain View Plaza

Unbuilt

Site Design
The organization of the buildings is reminiscent of a Spanish plaza or courtyard, prevalent in historic New Mexican city planning. There is cross access at the south of the property, in an effort to redirect large truck traffic away from the path of children traveling from school. A speed table is located between the community center and new amenities to the south to create a physical connection between the two properties and deter heavy traffic along Prosperity Avenue. As an initial air filter, a landscape buffer is provided at the perimeter of the site, consisting of native plants including apache plume, broom snakeweed, lavender, and dessert willow trees.

On the north end of the proposed property, there is a new building that is an extension of the existing community center including program such as classrooms, boxing and fitness studios, a commercial kitchen, and lease spaces for local neighborhood businesses. Residential buildings, grouped in three-unit clusters, surround perimeter of the resident shared south courtyard. The proposed buildings act as the main buffer from prevailing winds that carry various particulates. This buffer creates pleasant outdoor areas, which are oriented north to south to take advantage of the path of the sun. The walkways are constructed of historic Kinney brick, mined in Tijeras, NM, and manufactured next door to the west. The parking is pushed to the outside of the site to create a clear distinction between pedestrian and automobile pathways.

Building Design
The Mountain View Plaza derives its building design from the historic culture of the neighborhood. Agriculture and the introduction of the railroad are the original factors that inspired development in this area. The structure of the railroad folds upon itself to create the structure for the agricultural representation of the bio-wall, transforming the buildings into actively air filtering structures with self-supplementing water collection. This bio-wall works to clean the air from surrounding industrial uses by filtering it through the roots of live vegetation. This live filter can also be used for the air intake for the fresh air into the buildings to create excellent interior air quality.

The buildings encircle the property, and provide a protected outdoor environment for the residents and surrounding neighborhood. The courtyard is secured from public access to encourage free reign for the younger residents. It also contains a community garden and playground. The unique design of the courtyard doors can be vertically lifted to establish continuous interior space to the exterior private yard when the weather is nice. Typical residential units are designed for families with an open floor plan on the first floor, three bedrooms upstairs, master bath, closet and private balcony.