The project reimagines one of Los Angeles’ most iconic yet often overlooked apartment typologies—the Dingbat. Two one-bedroom apartments are added above an existing car parking area, which was preserved in compliance with Santa Monica Rent Control regulations. Tucked behind a multifamily fourplex, the new units share the site with two mature trees whose presence became central to the design. Their shade offers relief and a sense of place within an otherwise typical sodded rear yard, making their preservation a primary driver of the architectural form.

The building itself is a playful homage to the traditional Dingbat. A pink stucco box, rising above a masonry volume, reinterprets the conventional with a fresh approach to materiality. The façade, carved by the volume of a rotated staircase, avoids the trees while creating synergy between the new structure and the existing landscape.

In keeping with the Dingbat’s ethos of shared community in a car-centric city, the staircase becomes the thread that intertwines the lives of both residents. The project explores the delicate balance of living together—entangled yet intimate—while respecting the individuality of each apartment. It is, in its essence, a contemporary tribute to the Dingbat: a living testament to community, craftsmanship, and the beauty of Santa Monica’s urban landscape.