Over the past two decades, the small lot subdivision ordinance has become a popular tool for developers looking to fit new single-family homes into the City of L.A.'s multifamily neighborhoods. A new ordinance which aims to bring similar types of projects to L.A. County's unincorporated communities will soon get a test run.

View looking southwestTaller

Los Angeles-based architecture firm Taller (pronounced tah-yehr), has announced plans for what would be the first project built under L.A. County's compact lot subdivision ordinance on a single parcel of land at 925 Brannick Avenue in East Los Angeles. Plans call for razing an existing single-story, two-bedroom house, clearing the way for the construction of four single-family homes.

"The homes are state-of-the-art projects that prioritize contextual aesthetics, sustainability, great design, and—of course—attainability," reads a narrative released by the firm. "They have been thoughtfully wrought to maximize efficiency in order to keep building costs low, allowing for the new homes to enter the market at below-median prices and still remain profitable to our investors. In effect, the project aims to address the 'missing middle' in the LA housing market and provide quality home ownership opportunities to a broader swath of households."

The homes are to be built with structural insulated panels - a material which Taller states is upwards of 30 percent stronger than traditional stick framing, and helps to save on heating and cooling costs. The four houses would come in two- and three-bedroom floor plans, ranging from 885 to 1,118 square feet in size. Plans call for garages at street level, with roof decks and solar panels above.

Interior of compact lot housesTaller

Taller, besides its new East Los Angeles project, is also designing infill housing at a site near the US-101 freeway in Hollywood.