Kensington Park Plaza Earns Orchid Award

SAN DIEGO – The Orchids and Onions Awards Jury has recognized Kensington Park Plaza, the innovative mixed-use project designed and developed by Allard Jansen Associates Architecture, with an Orchid for excellence in architectural design.

Located at the northwest of Adams Avenue and Marlborough Drive, in the heart of the Kensington business district, Kensington Park Plaza was completed in June. The awards jury singled-out the 23,000 square foot live/work-retail/office development out for its inventive combination of old and new.

“A refreshing vision for retail commercial buildings that respects historic California bungalow architecture,” stated jury members. “A contemporary building that creates a nice transition from residences to the commercial village in Kensington. Historic elements pop off this new building's facade with appropriate setbacks and a pedestrian plaza.”

Combining Smart Growth concepts with New Urbanism architecture, the highly-visible Kensington Park Plaza project is designed by award-winning architect Allard Jansen, of Allard Jansen Associates Architecture. Jansen is also the lead general partner for The Kensington Partnership, the investment group organized by Jansen to develop the project.

Fronting a half-block-long community park, the project represents the first new “urban village” concept development to be constructed within the Adams Avenue Redevelopment Area, and has been eagerly anticipated by Kensington residents. Jansen's signature design provides approximately 6,500 square feet of retail, restaurant and office space on the ground floor with eleven live/work lofts on the second floor. Parking spaces and secured garages are included.

The project design follows new-urbanism principles, with building storefronts directly on the sidewalk and with parking at the rear accessible by driveway and alley. Jansen's design maximizes exterior walls and windows to provide natural light and views to Mt. Helix, while maintaining an Old World neighborhood scale with a ground-level plaza.

Commercial tenants include Starbucks Coffee, and Clean Touch Cleaners. Residential units include two bedroom floor plans with lofts and up to 1,200 square feet of space. Offering upscale urban living, all units feature large picture windows that provide expansive city views and plenty of natural sunlight.

Among the older, historic neighborhoods of San Diego, Kensington features classic Spanish and Craftsman-style homes, well-tended yards, vintage lampposts and a bustling village business district. Borrowing heavily from local architectural details and flavor, including stacked stone columns, Spanish tile roofs, archways and varied facades, Kensington Park Plaza blends timelessly into the existing established neighborhood.

Located at 444 South Cedros Ave., Suite 190, in Solana Beach (858/793-9091), Allard Jansen Architects, Inc. offers distinctive commercial and custom residential architectural design. The firm has won numerous design awards for projects in Rancho Santa Fe, Mission Hills, and San Diego, including two recent Home of the Year Awards from San Diego Home & Garden/Lifestyles Magazine.