Meridian 105 Architecture submitted this proposal to the City of Sacramento as a concept for the redesign of Capitol Mall, the entry boulevard and view corridor to the California State Capitol building. The proposal reconsiders vehicular circulation, activates a grassed median running through the center of the street, and integrates a network of bike and pedestrian circulation connecting the mall to the cultural and historical components of the city. The project’s environmental considerations include a stormwater management plan featuring over 80% water permeable paving, a network of water treatment swales that capture excess runoff, and a rainwater collection system for irrigation. The plan extends the city’s rich urban tree canopy into the mall, preserves the existing treescape already established, and is even capped off with a man-made rainbow. The City of Sacramento has sought proposals to redesign the Capitol Mall through an open competition, hoping to establish community interest and spur momentum towards implementing the best ideas.

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Post tags: California State Capitol building, City of Sacramento, eco design, government architecture, green architecture, green design, green stormwater management, meridian 105 architecture, redesign of Capitol Mall, Sacramento architecture, sacramento capitol mall, water permeable paving

Designed by Meridian 105, ’The Family Circle’ is a new concept for housing created to fit the lifestyle of the urban family. Planned for the perimeter of Denver, Colorado, the project aims to build an enriching environment for families who wish to enjoy the benefits of downtown living, but  just can’t afford the rates seen in the heart of the city. Providing an alternative to urban sprawl and drab suburban living, the Family Circle packs in all the best parts of an urban lifestyle without requiring its residents to travel hours by car reach Denver’s center. And while focusing its design on family living, the a multi-unit structure also creates a strong and safe community for kids and parents to grown and learn from one another.

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Post tags: affordable family house, denver housing, family circle, family living in the city, green architecture, meridian 105, modern architecture, urban sprawl

The Family Circle is Meridian 105‘s concept for a new sustainable housing model designed with the lifestyle of families in mind. Planned for the urban perimeter of Denver, CO, the project is designed for families who wish to enjoy the benefits of downtown living. This group finds itself without adequate or affordable housing choices, forced to either rent side-by-side with young singles or sublease from condominium owners at a premium. In either case, the current urban housing market provides neither the safety, serenity, nor the amenities considered a bare necessity to those with young children. Faced with such poor choices, families have traditionally chosen suburban living, contributing to car-dependence and urban sprawl. The dialogue surrounding urban sprawl focuses on this group’s desire to live in lower density neighborhoods, without regard for the development model being deployed in urban neighborhoods, one which avoids families altogether. The Family Circle is Meridian 105′s solution to this common problem.

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Post tags: eco design, family circle, Green Building, green design, green home, meridian 105, Sustainable Building, sustainable design, sustainable living