Delivering a Timeless Design that Appeals to Renters

Image courtesy of marinas.com.

Marina del Rey, Calif.—Legacy Partners’ new Neptune Marina apartment community will deliver a timeless mid-century modern aesthetic to the Marina del Rey neighborhood of Los Angeles, Calif. That aesthetic is conveyed in the recently released detailed renderings from Irvine, Calif.-based TCA Architects, the designer of the new community.

When completed in the summer of 2018, the 526-apartment community at Marquesas Way between Basins A and B in Marina del Rey will offer picturesque harbor views, as well as a new marina with modern boating facilities. The clean, linear design of Neptune Marina harkens to the post-war period that witnessed the establishment of the neighborhood.

“The design for Neptune Marina del Rey came about by putting an emphasis on the concept that had the greatest impact and relevance for the community,” TCA Architects studio director Tim Mustard told MHN.

“During our research, we discovered that the historical fabric of Marina del Rey was born out of the mid-century modern movement, so that had the most significant influence on the final design for Neptune.”

Stone accents, texture, a neutral color palette and a modest but playful splash of color were among the nautical elements TCA Architects incorporated in the apartment community. The inclusion of post and beams with expansive windows, open floor plans and improved waterfront access will yield a genuine indoor-outdoor living experience associated with a lifestyle in the marina.

Neptune Marina’s waterfront promenades, enhanced public access and a pedestrian sense of scale contribute to the walkability of the surrounding community, while preserving residents’ privacy and exclusivity. TCA Architects achieved this balance by including elevated courtyards accessible only by residents, as well as strategically-placed common spaces such as lobbies and boater facilities on the public edges to supplement surrounding promenades.

The major design challenges TCA Architects faced included the need to create a high-density urban project while honoring the city’s requirement to maintain pedestrians’ ability to view and interact with the Marina, Mustard said.

“The design challenges for Neptune were overcome by working closely with Legacy Partners and the local neighborhood groups to showcase how our vision for the community could be implemented, while still preserving views of the harbor,” he reported. “We held multiple design charrettes with ownership and various community groups to provide balance.

“This invaluable input and our prior experience in the Marina helped shape solutions—[such as] breaking the overall development into smaller buildings and incorporating wider pedestrian corridors and marina walkways—that fit the overall design aesthetic, while still honoring the city’s requirements.”

The architectural goal for Neptune Marina is adopting the site’s historical design elements and infusing them with a modern balance to ensure they resonate with coming generations of marina residents and boaters, Mustard said.

“The objective is not to replicate the past, but for its influence to be present in our designs alongside vibrant, modern characteristics,” he concluded.