Modern Multifamily Housing

Introducing Brett Farrow’s masterful modern multifamily housing project, Laguna Row.

“Knotty cedar tells a story and communicates an authenticity that you don’t get from other siding products.” – Brett Farrow, AIA

Location: Carlsbad, California

Photography: Auda & Auda Photography 

For this project, Brett Farrow was a man with many hats. He was the architect, developer and real estate marketer. Of course, taking on so many roles is not without its challenges but it also has some key advantages. Most notably, it gave him greater control over the end product, which is a stunning 13-home urban infill that celebrates natural modern living on a lagoon.

It’s a contemporary, multi-family residential project that is anything but cookie-cutter. But more than that, it’s a project driven by Farrow’s own long standing environmental beliefs. That’s why he  pursued a redevelopment project that can use existing utilities and allows people to live in a walkable community that does not require a car.

“Equally important to preventing sprawl and traffic is the sourcing of materials and strategies for systems,” explains Farrow. “Primary to this was selecting Western Red Cedar because it’s renewable, captures carbon, durable and naturally beautiful. It’s timeless and yet ages beautifully.”

Green Building Materials for Multifamily Housing

The desire to harmonize with nature was especially important given the environmentally sensitive setting. He wanted his row of 3-storey detached homes to convey this intention. So, he clad them all in a beautiful knotty grade of Real Cedar siding. It’s a green choice that he could feel good about showcasing so prominently. That’s because Real Cedar comes from forests certified by internationally recognized, independent certification agencies.

It’s also a design decision that significantly enhanced the visual impact the exterior of this modern multifamily housing project. After all, nothing looks quite as good as the rich tonal range of Real Cedar. 

“Yeah, It’s a bold statement that says many things on many levels – quality, natural, out of the ordinary,” says the award-winning architect. “Most projects of this type and size revert to stucco or cement board siding but I think people recognized the uniqueness of the application. It definitely drew a different demographic.”

WRC Specifications 

Grade: KD Select Knotty 

Size: 1×6 T&G fineline square edge

Fastening: Stainless steel siding nails

Applied Finish: Semi-transparent stain