[Urbannizer]

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/loca...#photo-8575232

Originally Posted by Chron

The Aurora: A highrise where every unit has an elevator


Marko Dasigenis, who leads the Houston office of Philip Johnson Alan Ritchie Architects, says they designed the form from the inside-out, by giving each of the 40 units its own "direct-entry" elevator.

They've eliminated the core, basically — the common lobby and that typical configuration of corridors accessed by one or two elevators. It's an idea borrowed from New York's newest luxury condominiums, although there private elevators are only for the most expensive units or penthouses, Dasigenis said. "But in this one, we were able to find a solution so every unit has its own direct elevator. We have four units per level with two elevators. Each elevator has a door in the front and a door in the back, and with each door, you enter into a unit."

The size of the units also played into the form. They're 3,500 to 4,000 square feet, with a few two-story penthouses that are about 6,500 square feet. Sims calls it "single-story living" for people who want an alternative to townhomes.