Flicker Bird Homes

Flicker Bird Homes will introduce 76 units of affordable family housing and a ground floor health clinic to a former parking lot site along a busy East Oakland thoroughfare. PYATOK worked to meet the needs of two partnering clients: nonprofit developer Satellite Affordable Housing Association, and Native American Health Center, which provides medical, dental, behavioral health, and social programs across the Bay Area.

With the opening of this 14,000-square-foot clinic space, NAHC will be able to expand its East Oakland presence with a cultural community center, pediatric dental services, Women, Infant, and Children programming, and pediatric and women’s medical services. The housing component is located above, on levels two-five, flanking a large central courtyard that adjoins service offices, a community room, and laundry. The project has separate entries and garages for each program; the more public clinic and cultural center to be accessed from International, and the residential lobby and garage located on Derby Street.

PYATOK was asked to create a unique identity for the building that drew inspiration from Native American cultural traditions while also being universally appealing for the diverse Fruitvale residents anticipated to use the clinic. Interweaving colors and materials on the façade mimic the patterns of basket weaving. Art-infused canopies above the main entries echo the flicker feathers of traditional headdresses.