Built to Serve: The Merian in Downtown San Diego
With its beautiful towering presence, The Merian in downtown San Diego provides a multitude of resources for the community members who visit the building as well as the residents who live there. The Carrier Johnson architects of The Merian as well as the Holland Partner Group, specifically Holland Residential, paired together to create and build this “mixed use” structure with the intent to include aspects of the building the general public could enjoy. In addition, Vida Design contributed to the modern and chic interior design of the building including its lobby, housing areas, and public spaces. Together, these three companies fashioned a structure with many different functions for the community of East Village San Diego.
As you can see from the images, The Merian is primarily a residential building with features to include the community such as an amphitheater as well as a plaza. The public and residential spaces are decorated with sleek furniture that adorn the building like art. Carrier Johnson and Holland Residential were mindful of the already-existing local culture as they were generating ideas for the building, and so this project was designed with intense consideration and care. The Merian was created to serve as a residential building as well as a public space, and the architectural design of the building is a pillar of style and class.
About The Merian:
The Merian is a residential building with 426 living spaces including three bedroom apartments, two bedroom apartments, and even studio apartments. There are also townhomes and penthouse residential spaces available. Residents of The Merian can enjoy luxury features such as quartz countertops, impressive kitchen amenities, and even Nest Thermostats. In addition, small details such as USB chargers and motorized shades come as conveniences for residents. With so many different housing selections, The Merian provides living spaces for multiple levels of family income.
With its outdoor terrace, jumbotron, and amphitheater there is no doubt that The Merian was created to include the community along with the residents of the building. In addition to these features, the public has access to a pool, spa, and even a coffee bar. There is even a concierge on duty at all times to assist guests and community members to their desired locations within the building. The Merian was designed to be inviting for all, and the creators of this structure really hit the mark! Representatives from Carrier Johnson Duane Hagewood and Alex Gutierrez as well as employees of Holland Residential spoke in depth on the public aspect when designing The Merian.
Who Was The Merian Built For?
The Merian is a residential structure with office components as well as entertaining public spaces and retail opportunities. The representatives from Carrier Johnson as well as Holland Residential both mention in an interview that it almost was a competition between companies as to who would be able to purchase the space where The Merian now sits. Apparently, the plot where The Merian now sits was highly sought after due to its central location in the up-and-coming East Village area. When the city of San Diego began to accept bids and project proposals for the space, there were expectations laid out about the project. It was required that the plot would include affordable housing, public access, and a renovation of a historical home on the site. When Carrier Johnson and Holland Residential teamed up, they knew they wanted to create something beautiful and affordable for the community. In addition, they also wanted to create a “destination point” for the city to be proud of.
The location of the Merian is located across from the NewSchool of Architecture and Design, which is an important and essential detail to the building’s history. The NewSchool of Architecture and Design originally used the location, or plot, of The Merian before it was built as a gathering point for the East Village community. The college created events in this location that included music, food, art, and a sense of community. This is a detail the team from Carrier and Johnson as well as Holland Residential kept in mind when designing the public aspect of the building. The representatives from Carrier Johnson referred to the community gatherings as a “great hit for the residents” and, when designing The Merian, they were determined to keep that same vibe and sense of fun for the community.
When asked about their vision, Alex Gutierrez and Duane Hagewood from Carrier Johnson discussed walking through East Village to take in visuals of the community and to determine how The Merian would fit in and serve the members of San Diego. They also observed the community and took note of how their building could improve the environment and also serve the people of the area. What could they build that the people of East Village would be interested in enough to participate and visit? Alex Gutierrez reflected on the structure consisting of residential, office, and commercial spaces and said, “It really creates a dynamic place.” The representatives from Holland referred to The Merian as a “mixed use” space as well as a “gathering point for the community”. Through their care for the community and art, the experts at Holland Residential, Carrier Johnson, and Vida Design truly created an innovative structure and atmosphere.
In addition to designing The Merian to include office spaces and public access, the creators from Carrier Johnson and Holland Residential knew it was important to include affordable housing within the structure. The team designed a variety of homes ranging from smaller studio spaces to larger townhomes and penthouse choices. With this variety in housing comes diversity in the levels of income needed to live at The Merian. As Alex Gutierrez said in the interview, “You don’t have to be on the high end of the spectrum to afford to live here.” The Merian was purposely designed to invite diversity through its front doors and so it has become a well-received building in the community of East Village in San Diego.
Developer: Holland Partner Group
Architect: Carrier Johnson + Culture
Interior Design: Vida Design PDX
