The Clara is part of a new high density mixed-use district with residential housing, senior assisted living housing, retail, and a public park on 5 acres in Santa Clara. Drawing inspiration from local ecosystems and ecologies, particularly the vivid color blocks of the San Francisco Bay Salt Ponds, the vision for the Clara’s landscape design amplifies its sense of place.

Best seen from the air, the dramatic magentas and corals and blues of the San Francisco Bay Salt Ponds are produced by microorganisms that thrive in high salinity. Forming a colorful patchwork stretching along the southern edge of San Francisco Bay, the saline pools were used for salt production by the Ohlone and commercially since the Gold Rush.

The redwood grove at the entry to The Clara emphasizes the verticality of the new tower and connects residents to the redwood forests characteristic of Northern California. The planting palette mimics the soaring canopies and leafy understories found in the region. The paving pattern here is based on the outline of the Salt Ponds.

A colorful playground and dog run on the street level is a friendly meeting place for families. Borrowing from the bright hues of the Salt Ponds, the playground’s colorful rubber mounds connect the community to the broader natural environment. A pollinator greenway wrapping around the building leads residents to retail spaces, community playground, and dog run.

The Clara’s rich residential amenity program includes an outdoor pool with cabanas, multiple lounge areas, outdoor dining, barbeques, bocce courts, and a fitness deck. Hedges are planted on the rooftop to form intimate garden rooms. The color story of the Salt Ponds extends to the outdoor amenity deck with a mix of pink-hued pavers surrounding the pool.

Location: Santa Clara, CA

Status: Completed 2025

Project Type: Multi-Family Residential

Collaborators: Bohlin Cywinski Jackson Architects, Steinberg Hart Architects, AVRO|KO Interior Design

Photography: Marion Brenner