Set on twelve acres of former U.S. Naval Air Station land, Alameda’s North Housing represents a transformative model for inclusive, community-centered living. Developed by the Housing Authority of the City of Alameda and Island City Development, the project brings together senior housing and permanent supportive housing for formerly unhoused residents, uniting two often underserved groups through thoughtful landscape design.

Envisioned by Principal Karen Krolewski while at PGAdesign, the outdoor environments were conceived to foster dignity, comfort and connection. Courtyards, garden spaces and social zones create opportunities for gathering and daily life, reinforcing a sense of home across the development. “We try to humanize the landscape and make it feel like a home as much as it can,” says Karen Krolewski, PLA, Principal Landscape Architect now at Fogline Studio. “We bring in different spaces where people can gather and build community.”

Nestled between the two L-shaped buildings, generous outdoor seating, a BBQ area, dog run, community garden and other shared amenities create a network of places to connect with the landscape—whether for quiet moments of reflection or more social, communal activity. Key to the experience of the site was creating a sense of security and enclosure while still ensuring the shared spaces felt connected to their surroundings. 

L I N E landscape panels play a central role in shaping that right balance between openness and enclosure. Used throughout the site to frame courtyards, guide circulation and define key thresholds, the panels establish a clear sense of space definition while maintaining a visual connection to the landscape beyond. Specified with one-inch horizontal slats in an understated Obsidian powdercoat, they create a consistent, architectural rhythm that feels intentional and refined without calling undue attention to itself.

Rather than reading as a barrier, L I N E helps organize North Housing’s shared spaces into a series of welcoming and intuitive outdoor rooms. Edges are defined, entries are clear and communal areas feel protected but never closed off. “It’s robust, but it has a transparency to it,” says Krolewski. “L I N E allows the space to still feel like it’s breathing, whereas a solid fence wouldn’t have worked.” 

Light filters through the slats. Views remain open. Air moves freely. Together, these qualities soften the experience of enclosure, creating spaces where residents can feel both at ease and connected—to one another and to the landscape around them. 

The site furnishings throughout the site build on this foundation. ADA-compliant Catena tables with 21 Chairs, Link and Wellspring benches, Ride bike racks and Equinox umbrellas all provide layers of comfort and usability, encouraging residents to gather, rest and engage. A shared Obsidian powdercoat across the metal elements creates quiet visual continuity, tying the furnishings back to the L I N E panels and reinforcing a cohesive experience throughout.

These elements come together to shape an environment that at once feels both protected and interconnected, where spaces are clearly defined yet never limiting. The result is a landscape that inspires confidence, invites people outside and helps build a sense of belonging in everyday life.