Courtesy Scott Siekert Design
Through a new development called Vista Place (4310 Vista Ave.), Scott Siekert Design and Chouteau Building Group are bringing a new residential option to the Forest Park Southeast community. Once completed, Vista Place will feature four single-family homes and two lofts built around a shared courtyard. Scott Siekert, a realtor with Berkshire Hathaway Alliance Real Estate Group and owner and architect at Scott Siekert Design, took a few minutes to talk about the project and its “community within a community” concept.
Tell me about the project’s concept.
It’s a bit different than the typical design in the neighborhood. The houses are not rowhouses. The four houses, two lofts, and shared space create a little community. You can imagine that there are children playing in the courtyard. In terms of the broader community, I think it’s an ideal location not only for access to the hospital and Cortex and SLU, but you have these really nice institutions like the art museum, the zoo, and the park right in that area.
Can you talk a bit about the design?
It’s modern with clean lines. Very simple. The aesthetic that you might find in Dwell magazine. Everything is based on the square. It’s all about interlocking volumes that form the houses. It was inspired by a sculpture [“Interrelation of Volumes from the Ellipsoid” by Georges Vantongerloo] that I saw at the Art Institute of Chicago.
How did you find the location?
There are a lot of beautiful neighborhoods in St. Louis, but a lot of them have historic codes or restrictions to building. The Grove is an area that’s more open to contemporary or modern design. We approached Park Central [Development], and they put us in contact with owners in the neighborhood. That’s how we were able to purchase the lot from the Boys & Girls Club.
Who are you hoping to appeal to?
I think it’d be a great house for kids and for someone who wants an alternative to a more suburban location. Someone who enjoys the diversity and community of the city. This is just an extension of that community to a microlevel with the six units. This is similar to what’s happening in Portland or Brooklyn.
Have you seen any other places like this?
It really doesn’t exist in St. Louis, although Hortus Court was inspirational. I walked down there and talked to some of the people, and they expressed how much they like living off the street with the shared green space.
Who else is involved in this project?
For the interiors, we’re using Hammer & Hand [Imports]. They have a really great line of kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities from Spain. ProSource [of St. Louis] will supply the flooring, tile for the bathroom, and any carpeting. We’re picking out the fixtures with Crescent Plumbing [Supply], and the lighting is coming from Metro Lighting. We’re also providing an allowance for smart home technology. Integration Controls will work with the buyer to design the system that suits their needs.
What's the price point?
For the houses, $550,000 to $600,000 and $180,000 to $200,000 for the lofts. There aren’t a lot of add-ons, so it’s a pretty complete package.
What stage is the project in now?
It just went on the market in early January. We need to presell one home and then we’ll start construction.
