Chen + Suchart Studio, LLC

Kenneth Place Townhomes

Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist

KENNETH PLACE TOWNHOMES

Chen + Suchart Studio

PROJECT TEAM
Gabriel Quijada, Aaron Bass

MANUFACTURERS
MOEN, American Standard, Arcadia Inc., Galvalume, Kwikset, Milgard

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
BDA Design, J. Greg Brickey

PHOTOGRAPHS
Matt Winquist

GENERAL CONTRACTOR
TLW CONSTRUCTION, Tarik Williams, Ted Williams

PRINCIPALS
Szu-Ping Patricia Chen Suchart, Thamarit Suchart

PROJECT SUPERINTENDENT
Mike Oberst

GRAPHICS & DRAWINGS
Chen + Suchart Studio

LOCATION
Tempe, United States

YEAR
2016

AREA
16823 m²

CATEGORY
Houses

Text description provided by the architects.

Kenneth Place Townhomes is comprised of two 4-unit townhouse developments located in Tempe, Arizona adjacent to Arizona State University.

Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist
Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist

The original single-family zoning was amended by joining two lots together in order to pursue increased density. This desire for increased density supports the City of Tempe’s General Plan, whereby density in this location near the light rail is considered to be better for the built environment in the otherwise typical 1950’s suburban neighborhood.

Conventional 2X wood framed construction was utilized due to cost considerations ($120/SF). Each of the two buildings takes the form of simple wood framed ‘boxes’. Three of the four elevations are completely planar and rectilinear.

Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist
Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist

The fourth elevation incorporates each of the unit’s entries and is slightly articulated through its subtle manipulation of the lower and upper floor’s walls.

This slight difference in the configurations offers a degree of spatial and perspectival diversity in the interior and exterior spaces within the confines of conventional wood framing and standard concrete slab on grade construction.

Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist
Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist

An open plan configuration on the lower level combines the kitchen, dining, and living spaces as one space overlooking the entry courtyards by means of 10’ tall floor to ceiling insulated glazing.

On the second level, the open study room extends the public space from below. The private spaces of a guest bedroom and a master suite are also located on the second level. Slight shifts in the floor plan allow for a diversity of space making in an otherwise efficient floor plan.

Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist
Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist

In the current construction “climate” of Tempe and the metropolitan area, economical cladding of a building offers two distinct choices: painted stucco or metal cladding.

As a result of this major consideration, the language and detailing of the project’s skin exploits the qualities of corrugated Galvalume for the majority of the project.

Perforated corrugated Galvalume provides additional diversity for the elevations and their locations are dictated by programmatic considerations.

Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist
Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist
Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist

For example, the perforated cladding is situated at each of the entry courtyards to exploit these vertical two story spaces, while on the northwest and southeast corners of the project, it offers views and protection from the sun.

The varying direction of the corrugation offers sensitivity to the scale of the neighborhood. Standard painted stucco, solely located in the entry courtyards, signify entry and welcome occupants with the color of desert marigolds. Low-E insulated glazing provides energy efficient openings for natural light.

In the largely developer driven context of this typology, design and architecture more often than not take a backseat to integrity.

Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist
Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist
Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist

This is evidenced by the proliferation of foreign architectural languages, which have too often become normal or accepted.

Kenneth Place Townhomes pursues design and innovation within the very climate and economics of this often fabricated facade of the “architectural Disneyland” by instead, offering a space to live, which is rooted and conceived in integrity.

Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist


Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist
Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist
Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist
Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist
Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist
Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist
Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist
Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist


Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist
Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist
Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist
Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist
Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist
Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist


Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist
Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist
Kenneth Place Townhomes
© Matt Winquist


Kenneth Place Townhomes
Courtesy of Chen + Suchart Studio
Kenneth Place Townhomes
Courtesy of Chen + Suchart Studio
Kenneth Place Townhomes
Courtesy of Chen + Suchart Studio
Kenneth Place Townhomes
Courtesy of Chen + Suchart Studio
Kenneth Place Townhomes
Courtesy of Chen + Suchart Studio
Kenneth Place Townhomes
Courtesy of Chen + Suchart Studio


Kenneth Place Townhomes
First Floor Plan
Kenneth Place Townhomes
Second Floor Plan
Kenneth Place Townhomes
Roof Plan


Kenneth Place Townhomes
Section 01
Kenneth Place Townhomes
Section 02
Kenneth Place Townhomes
Longitudinal Section

Chen + Suchart Studio, LLC
T +1 480 3321704
Chen + Suchart Studio, LLC
7070 E 3rd Ave, Scottsdale, AZ 85251, United States