Project: 404 Garden Street, Santa Barbara
Client: Pete Ehlen Architect, Run 17 LLC
Contractor: Parton & Edwards Construction
This project was designed and developed by Pete as his office building. The building sits on a 2,500 square foot lot that he purchased from the City of Santa Barbara. The lot was excess land left-over from the freeway widening project that the City forgot they owned.
The goal of the project was to create an affordable office space for East Beach Ventures. Construction cost was $250 per square foot including site work. Sustainable exterior finishes are maintenance and paint-free. Landscaping is drought tolerant and all on-site storm water is re-charged into the ground instead of out to the street.
The 800 square foot second floor features natural ventilation and fans instead of mechanical system, lots of dual-glazed windows for natural light, solar window shades to prevent heat gain and cork flooring. White corrugated polycarbonate siding is used to mirror the exterior.
One sustainable feature is the lack of paint. Colored walls are integrally colored plaster. Exposed wood and steel are left unfinished. Masonry is not sealed at the exterior allowing the masonry to change color during the rainy season.
Exterior plywood has integral radiant barrier and insulation is recycled denim. Restroom has no hot water, solar powered lavatory faucet and high efficiency toilet. Restroom door was constructed from scrap wood left over from the rest of the job.
Exterior lighting is provided by recycled industrial explosion-proof light fixtures salvaged from old factories in the Midwest.
