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The Gateway at Willowbrook, a new 105-unit tax credit senior community by Thomas Safron and Associates, includes 22 units for people previously without homes. Amenities include a ground floor public library, as well as spacious residents’ only community room, computer room, laundry, gym and landscaped gardens with an outdoor lounge and barbecue area. The landscaped areas, like the rest of the project, are designed to create community among residents, as well as to feed resident health and resilience.
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A native oak, umbrellas and pergola shade the dining patio from direct sun. The area stays cool all day and helps reduce the energy needs of adjacent indoor spaces. The outdoor dining space is an extension of the big indoor recreational room. The doors can be opened to create and indoor-outdoor environment.
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The residents’ entrance to the Gateway is surrounded with lush, leafy, low water foliage native and climate-compatible foliage that cools the space and provides a restful ambiance. This Marina Strawberry tree delivers showy, edible fruit. It joins other edibles in the ground level gardens, including citrus, pineapple gauva, and passion fruit vines.
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Fire pits attract an audience – a great way to encourage people to gather! This one sits just to the side of the dining patio, warming the space on cool nights and mornings.
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Wrapped in greenery, the lush and leafy garden contains hedges of edible Catalina Cherry, lime and lemon trees, outdoor dining and an outdoor kitchen and BBQ. A bridged bioswale encourages strolling and infiltrates stormwater to recharge the city’s groundwater table and feed the garden.
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Diverse, high-quality, natural elements bring beauty to each detail. Here the natural stone of the bioswale and walkway of concrete pavers intersects with the wood bridge and California native Seaside Daisy (Erigeron glaucus) blooms.
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Beyond the bioswale, a pergola-shaded patio sits, wrapped in greenery. Near the vine-covered fence, a decomposed granite patio sits ready for raised edible gardens.
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The outdoor kitchen sits just outside an indoor kitchen, a perfect combination for entertaining! Deep foliage provides privacy and, along with an arbor and umbrellas, help cool the space.
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A well lit walkway wrapped in California native Catalina Cherry and Oregon Grape entices exploration. Even this narrow strip of planted space between the building and walk can play a part in capturing stormwater, reducing runoff, and cooling the space.
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Hedges of edible Catalina Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia), a great alternative to LA’s ubiquitous ficus, line the residents’ garden. In the spring, these drought tolerant, evergreen shrubs fill with delicate white flowers. In fall, they produce a bountiful and yummy harvest that delights the birds.
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Nature has a profound impact on health and measurably reduces stress. Even views of foliage have been shown to have healing effects. For this reason, great care was taken to ensure the beauty of views from indoors. Soon vines will grow to cover fencing, leaving only lush, leafy greenery beyond the piano.
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To make nature even more accessible, garden areas fill the second floor mezzanine with shade, flowering trees and fragrant native foliage. This bird and butterfly habitat is complemented by a gurgling water feature.
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Here again, there is ample outdoor seating for dining, studying or simply enjoying the sunshine and greenery.
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The area is so deeply shaded by tree cover, the elevated garden supports shade-loving plants like this Giant Chain Fern (Woodwardia fimbriata) and nearby Alumroot.
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Residents have views of vibrant, healing greenery from their units. As these trees – the ultimate shade structures – grow, upper units will gain more cooling shade and, with it, reduced energy costs.
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Fragrant Coyote Mint (Monardella villosa) spills from the elevated gardens, attracting birds, butterflies and childrenn. Its purple pom-pom blooms are delightful. Its deep, evergreen foliage delivers its minty scent to the breeze, even when it is not in bloom.
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The developer and landscape design team worked together to ensure that there would be ample green space. Softening hardscapes with foliage has been shown to decrease stress responses – we think it also creates opportunities for delight!
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The driveway, which parallels a nearby freeway exit, is lined with lush, leafy native foliage and trees. At present, it welcomes residents home. As it grows, the greenery will completely obscure the view of the freeway and serve as a beautiful welcome to Willowbrook for those exiting the freeway on the other side.
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The entrance is a pleasant place for visitors to wait or to simply enjoy the verdant space filled with blooms and all they attract, including birds and butterflies.
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Imagine this space without the greenery? Would it be nearly as welcoming a walk? Lush, leafy spaces at the building’s exterior support the community’s walkability.
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Tree cover in the compact areas that wrap the outside of the property welcomes feathered friends. Even Hummingbirds need a place to rest from time to time!
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As these young trees grow, they will create a canopy over the sidewalk. Under this canopy, temperatures can be as much as 20 degrees cooler!
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California native foliage outside the ground floor library ensures there are beautiful views from meeting rooms and community space. It also softens the feel of the property for those walking by. Even these small planted space have a profound impact on the property’s perceived value as well as its ability to collect water and support pollinators.
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Palo Verde Trees make beautiful parkway and small space trees. The Gateway at Willowbrook has these architectural, glooming trees in the Mezzanine gardens as well as exterior spaces where these blooms can delight passersby.
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The Gateway at Willowbrook sits immediately off a 110 exit and near the Rosa Parks Meto Station. By adding bike racks, Thomas Safran and Associates opened up even more avenues for transportation.
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Thomas Safron and Associates not only preserved space on site for foliage, it leased an adjacent vacant lot and planted a variety of shade trees. This space sits between the residences, a 110 freeway exit, and the Rosa Parks Metro Stop. It will soon be deeply forested, cooling and cleaning the air. From the residences, it will obscure views and sounds of traffic. From the freeway and station, it will make Willowbrook a more verdant, welcoming stop.
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The forested area beautifies the entrance to the Willowbrook community as well as the views of the north-facing residences. As the trees grow, they will also cool the residences and community.
