Blue Star Corner | David Baker Architects

Emeryville CA | Completed

2007

Exterior view of townhouses at Blue Star Corner in Emeryville, Ca.

Blue Star Corner's townhouse rows face each other across intimate shared courtyards.

This 20-unit townhouse community draws inspiration from both Dutch rowhouses and British garden mews to provide high-density housing with plentiful light, air, and open space on a small urban infill site.

Row of the four townhomes of Blue Star Corner in Emeryville, Ca.

Four distinctive buildings house 20 unique townhomes.

The tall, narrow townhomes face each other across semi-private patios and landscaped courtyards. Garden paths lead past entry landings to a shared grove courtyard lined with benches and art—a series of kinetic birdhouse sculptures by a local artist.

Each row of homes is flanked by a shared courtyard shaded with native, drought-tolerant plantings on one side and a permeable paved auto court on the other. The homes features distinct facades as well as dedicated personal outdoor space.

The simple arrangement of four buildings on a long, narrow site results in a density of 44 units/acre while retaining more than a quarter of the property as green open space. These infill homes make use of existing parks, public transit, and walkable and bikeable streets, strengthening a sense of community and ownership while promoting alternate transit.

Bird house sculpture and townhouses at Blue Star Corner in Emeryville, Ca.

Built-in padded relaxation nook inside a unit at Blue Star Corner in Emeryville, Ca.

A built-in padded relaxation nook is ideal for reading or movie-watching.

Courtyard at Blue Star Corner in Emeryville, Ca.

New landscaping takes root in the communal courtyard.

Aerial site plan for Blue Star Corner in Emeryville, Ca.

Aerial site plan. Blue Star corner in top right corner on Halleck Street and Sherwin Avenue. Emeryville Warehouse Lofts along Hubbard Street and Park Avenue.