Responding to site context and creating a strong link between the buildings and the community was among the top priorities during the planning stages of AMLI-MDR, located harborside in Marina del Rey, CA. Influenced by the scenery of the marina, the design drew inspiration from an image of a boathouse. Simple shed roof with exposed rafters and wall cladding composed of sidings, plaster and stone materials create a sublime visual nautical theme. Large corner windows and open rail balcony blurs the line between indoor and outdoor. Ultimately, the design is about living close to the water where people experience their surroundings – the sound of the water, the breeze of the sea and saltwater air. The 10.4 acre site will be developed as a 585 unit mixed-use apartment project configured in 6 separate buildings. Each of the buildings contain a lobby on the promenade with an elevator, club house, and amenity space such as a dog wash or bike shop. Some buildings will either have a roof top deck or landscaped garden. The property will also feature pool areas, fireplace structures, monument walls, trellises, plazas and promenades.