Stardust Gardens

RESHAP—pronounced “reshape” and standing for Rebuilding the Existing Supportive Housing at Alameda Point—represents the comprehensive redevelopment of 8 acres at Alameda’s former Navy base and air station. As the premier structure within the DBA-designed master plan, this affordable residential community establishes the architectural character for the entire campus.

Positioned between industrial neighbors and new residential zones, Stardust Gardens creates a distinct western boundary that transitions into soft, terraced courtyards facing east. 

The design responds to community input regarding building scale by grouping homes into intimate clusters along open-air corridors, maximizing access to natural light and fostering social connection. A variety of outdoor green spaces offer a range of experiences from communal to quiet, while curved “wings” on the upper levels elegantly mark the building’s two primary entries.

The name Stardust Gardens evokes a sense of wonder, honoring the neighborhood’s aerospace heritage while remaining deeply rooted in a restorative connection to the landscape. Dark brick tiles with white accents create a “starry” texture at the ground level, and white lap siding provides a material bridge between the area’s industrial past and its residential future. 

Situated on former tidal marshlands that were infilled for industrial use and later modified by the Navy, the site has undergone extensive remediation since 1992. The building utilizes deep pile foundations for structural stability in the marshy subsoils, while site-specific strategies informed by resiliency studies mitigate long-term coastal risks.

Learn more about RESHAP Alameda Point here.