It’s Courtyard Chronicles, our occasional behind-the-scenes look at how we design courtyard spaces that foster connection, sustainability, and affordable living. Meet GreenWORKS Courtyard Housing in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Located in the historic Westside Guadalupe District, and selected by the City of Santa Fe as a model for green, affordable housing, this unique courtyard design brought six homes together around four shared courtyards, creating a close-knit community vibe. With a community building at the heart of it all, this space became a hub for shared meals, celebrations, and connections, all while meeting Santa Fe’s green building standards. Read more here--->https://bit.ly/4cVoIKe #courtyards
Opticos Design, Inc.
Architecture and Planning
Berkeley, CA 3,696 followers
Urban designers & architects who believe in the transformative power of beautiful, sustainable, walkable places for all.
About us
Imagine a place where children ride their bikes to school. Picture a community where neighbors walk to the corner grocery and meet at local parks and where urban spaces are interconnected through public transportation. Pair this ideal with an architecture that is rooted in the history, climate, and culture of a place. The result is communities where people of all ages, backgrounds, and incomes want to live, work, and play. Opticos has the experience and expertise to help you make this vision a reality, whether you’d like to create a building, a street, a neighborhood—or an entire town. Blending the best from the past with the most innovative ideas of the present, our multidisciplinary approach results in state-of-the-art projects that are contextually rich, architecturally solid, and aesthetically appealing. From designs for individual buildings to regional master plans, whether we’re making new neighborhoods or revitalizing old spaces, we create custom-made solutions that directly address the architectural, cultural, and sustainable needs of communities. In the process, we form lasting partnerships with clients. Opticos was named to B Lab’s 2013 B Corp Best for the Workers List, honoring the top 10% of all Certified B Corporations that have made a positive impact on their workforce. We became one of the first B Corporations in 2007, and one of 12 initial California Benefit Corporations in 2012.
- Website
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http://www.opticosdesign.com
External link for Opticos Design, Inc.
- Industry
- Architecture and Planning
- Company size
- 11-50 employees
- Headquarters
- Berkeley, CA
- Type
- Privately Held
- Founded
- 2000
- Specialties
- Form-Based Codes, Urban Planning, Walkable Urbanism, and Urban Architecture
Locations
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Primary
Get directions
2100 Milvia St, Ste 125
Berkeley, CA 94704, US
Employees at Opticos Design, Inc.
Updates
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Opticos Design, Inc. reposted this
This Friday, join Alexandra Vondeling and Mitali Ganguly from Opticos—joining virtually—and the Kentucky Housing Corporation, Marian, Metro Office of Planning, Gathering Strength, Inc, and Metro Department of Housing and Community Development for a half-day Universal Design Summit. The AARP's Summit, dedicated to universal and middle housing, will connect builders, architects, occupational therapists, advocates and more. Don’t miss this chance to explore the intersection of middle housing and universal design and learn how these housing types benefit our community. Learn, connect, and create inclusive spaces—and be sure to register by 9/5 to join virtually! https://lnkd.in/g_RvGneC #missingmiddle #missingmiddlehousing #universaldesign #AARPKentucky
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#TBT Call it our origin story. Listen in as Daniel Parolek and Karen Parolek take us back to the early days of Opticos, how they coined the now widely-used term missing middle housing, and how they see cities evolving. #missingmiddle #missingmiddlehousing https://lnkd.in/gF7Nixgx
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Our latest newsletter is out! ✔ Read about our work in Athens (that’s Georgia) where we are currently designing a walkable, build-to-rent (BTR) community with Missing Middle Neighborhood Kit™ types. ✔ Find out where we’ll be appearing this fall. ✔ Learn more about Urban De-Code, an event we’re co-hosting with Culdesac that offers an immersion into the principles of New Urbanism—and a guided tour of the innovative community led by our own Daniel Parolek, and the Culdesac and Opticos teams. (Save the date for November 2-3, 2024!) If you’re not a subscriber, get the latest news and insight by subscribing here: https://lnkd.in/g4e9vn4j And, read the summer (yes, it's still summer 😎) issue here: https://bit.ly/3XubU9c
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This Friday, join Alexandra Vondeling and Mitali Ganguly from Opticos—joining virtually—and the Kentucky Housing Corporation, Marian, Metro Office of Planning, Gathering Strength, Inc, and Metro Department of Housing and Community Development for a half-day Universal Design Summit. The AARP's Summit, dedicated to universal and middle housing, will connect builders, architects, occupational therapists, advocates and more. Don’t miss this chance to explore the intersection of middle housing and universal design and learn how these housing types benefit our community. Learn, connect, and create inclusive spaces—and be sure to register by 9/5 to join virtually! https://lnkd.in/g_RvGneC #missingmiddle #missingmiddlehousing #universaldesign #AARPKentucky
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Emerging New Urbanists is hosting their Urban De-Code conference at Culdesac. Daniel Parolek and the Opticos Design, Inc. team will be hosting walking tours and discussions, diving into why the desert responsive design makes Culdesac such a great place to live beyond the benefits of being a car-free community. Tickets on sale Sept. 15 and save the date for November 2-3, 2024!
Tickets go on sale Sept 15 for Urban De-Code: Project Tempe! Fill out the interest form to be the first to hear when tickets go on sale - all emerging professionals are welcome! Thank you to Daniel Parolek of Opticos Design, Inc., who will lead an exclusive walking tour of Culdesac and take part in our workshop for emerging professionals! Interest form: https://lnkd.in/gCz_nsUH
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Form-based coding is a revolutionary approach to zoning that has the power to inspire walkable neighborhoods, resilient communities, and thriving cities. We’ve curated our collection of articles, case studies, and presentations on form-based code in one place for you. Learn more how #formbasedcode can transform your own community: https://bit.ly/3WJq2tT
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Survey says.... A new Zillow survey covering 26 metro areas found that residents largely support allowing middle housing in residential neighborhoods. Middle housing options are those that fall into categories between single-family lots and large multifamily buildings, such as duplexes or small apartment buildings. A clear majority of homeowners surveyed (78%) voiced support for at least one of these middle housing options, and support was higher among renters (91%). https://lnkd.in/g4_bBG7Q
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Is living without a car realistic? In December, Pete Adeney (aka Mr. Money Mustache) decided to find out by moving to Culdesac to see if it lived up to his expectations. (Spoiler alert: he loved it.) From the very start, Culdesac invited Opticos to challenge traditional ways of thinking, and to propose a project that from a planning, architecture, and housing type perspective has never been built before. We love to see projects like these truly pencil out and become a reality and of course everyday reactions from people living there. #walkable #walkablecommunities https://lnkd.in/gwa4tPFX
'I Lived in America's First Car-Free Community': Here's Why This Trend Could Catch On
https://www.realtor.com
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As part of a The Congress for the New Urbanism Legacy project, Opticos led a visioning and implementation study for the Hub District in Xenia, Ohio, which included a 3-day charrette. Discover how we partner with communities like Xenia to create vibrant spaces. #urbanism #missingmiddle #missingmiddlehousing https://bit.ly/3SO9mQw
The Hub District Vision and Implementation Plan - Opticos Design
https://opticosdesign.com