ROWHOUSES SPRING 2010 ROWHOUSES Northeastern University School of Architecture ARCH 5110 Housing and Aggregation Studio EDITOR SAM CHOI STUDENT EDITORS JACKIE MOSSMAN SHAWN BOLANOS SPRING 2010 ROWHOUSES ARCH 5110 HOUSING AND AGGREGATION STUDIO Northeastern University School of Architecture 360 Huntington Avenue 151 Ryder Hall Boston, MA 02115 617.373.8959 www.architecture.neu.edu Copyright 2011 School of Architecture Northeastern University Designed by Paste in Place Printed by Lulu The work contained within this publication is drawn from the Spring 2010 Northeastern University School of Architecture ARCH 5110 Housing and Aggrega- tion Studio. All work was produced by fth year architecture students, for whom the focus of the semester was inll courtyard housing in metropolitan Boston. STUDIO COORDINATORS Tim Love and Sam Choi FACULTY Sam Choi, Michael Grogan, David Hacin, Alyson Tanguay STUDENTS Alexander Davis, Allison Browne, Ashley Hartshorn, Ashley Hopwood, Assia Belguedj, Benjamin Hochberg, Bryan Allen, Chris Freda, Dan Adams, Dan Artiges, Dan Belknap, Darien Fortier, Dennis Greenwood, Diana Lattari, Erica LeLievre, Julien Jalbert, Lindsey Deschenes, Lucas Carriere, Nicole Fichera, Pamela Andrade, Samuel Clement, Sara Laporte, Tim Loranger, Whitney Chicoine TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Nicole Fichera SPLIT ROWHOUSE Dan Belknap, Julien Jalbert, Pamela Andrade SKINNY ROWHOUSE Assia Belguedj, Dan Adams, Darien Fortier, Lucas Carriere, Bryan Allen PUSH-PULL ROWHOUSE Chris Freda, Dan Artiges, Whitney Chicoine, Tim Loranger STACKED DUPLEXES Alexander Davis, Benjamin Hochberg, Sara Laporte 2 DUPLEXES OVER FLAT Ashley Hopwood, Dennis Greenwood, Erica LeLievre, Nicole Fichera, Samuel Clement INTERLOCKING ROWHOUSE Allison Browne, Diana Lattari 1 7 33 83
115 145 199 INTERLOCKING SPLIT PUSH-PULL TWO DUPLEXES OVER FLAT STACKED DUPLEXES THREE SKINNY 1 INTRODUCTION NICOLE FICHERA Northeastern University School of Architecture housing studio focuses on a different type of housing every year, from courtyard housing to high-rise multi-family buildings. When our instructors told us that wed be designing rowhouses, I was excited. As students in Boston, we know rowhouses: we have all lived in them, walked by them, partied in them, chatted on their stoops and relaxed on their rooftops. Architecture studios so often deal with big buildings and large-scale urban plansthis presented a chance to think on a smaller scale, something tangible and intimate. Design of housing focuses on something we all do every day: live. We all live, and we all want to live well. As students, this was our charge: to reinterpret the rowhouse for modern urban life. At the onset of the semester, our instructors presented six basic diagrams for our rowhouse prototypes. Based on a parcel size of 20 x 60, the diagrams established a basic framework for interior spatial organization and the adjacent parcels in relation to one another. Push/Pull required the deformation of the party wall between two parcels, allowing units to expand and contract laterally to create wider spaces. Interlocking rowhouses broke down the 2 initial parcel division almost completely, allowing interior spaces to wrap around each other and create complex spatial sequences. The Split condition mandated a solution with spaces around a central courtyard for light and air. The aptly named Skinny rowhouse was formed from three narrowhouses sandwiched into the width of two parcels. The two following propositions seemed the most viable in the context of todays market in that they pack three or four slightly smaller residences into the designated parcels. Two Duplexes over Flat proposed two vertical units sitting on top of one at unit at street level, and Stacked Duplex rowhouses were created by two duplex units stacked on top of each other, for a total of four units. Each of these organizing concepts presented challenges and opportunities. Some prototypes were ingrained with spatial richness; others adapted easily to retail and accessibility issues; and many had strict space constraints that required rigorous planning and innovative thinking. We began the studio with an in-depth analysis of rowhouse precedents, with examples ranging from the highly conceptual work of MVRDV in Amsterdams Borneo Sporenburg to high-end rowhouse residences both new and renovated. We looked at critical issues of core and stair placement, scale of living spaces, development of the entry sequence, and relationships with parking and the street. To begin design we rst developed a prototype of adjacent parcels forming a single component. We then aggregated components across an alley as four parcels, developing a section that cut across a block from street front to street front, with a service alley in between. Subsequently we repeated the long sections to form an entire block, and invented corner conditions for the idealized block created. At one point during the process we exchanged units between peers, and aggregated both sectional types together, rst at the scale of a single block, then as a nine-block grid. After designing these permutations in a vacuum, we were ultimately asked to deploy our block strategy on an actual site. The site assigned was a large swath of underused, fragmented blocks along Melnea Cass Boulevard. As a fringe condition surrounded by gentried South End rowhouse neighborhoods, industrial mega-blocks, a fast moving multi-lane road, hospital campus buildings, and low-income housingthe site was highly variable and required adaptive responses. Our urban strategies had to negotiate this varied context, while maintaining the spatial logic of our original two-parcel prototype. Our idealized block plans deformed, and spacious units were condensed to integrate ground level retail zones. Thus the work produced at the precinct scale, block scale, and unit scale was endlessly varied. Although the process was trying and unusual, this was an important project as students learning about housing and 3 the ways in which cities struggle to move forward within the constraints of the past. In cities such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, rowhouses are commonplace. Multiple generations of people love them. They make neighborhoods feel unied and urban, create a comfortable sense of human scale, and express the individuality of a single home. Historically rowhouses signied progress and momentum forward. In Bostons Back Bay and South End neighborhoods, rowhouse builders were pioneers on land lled sea. Now antique facades seem solid, placid, full of untold stories from a genteel past. Rowhouses have been so often subdivided and readapted to modern living that their rhythmic, uniform facades hardly reect their diverse and heterogeneous innards. But these neighborhood relics are not always perfectly preserved and have adapted to accommodate change over time. It is essential to acknowledge that diversity exists within rowhouses. Recognizing the natural evolution of living spaces couldand shouldhave major implications in the creation of new housing today. As an individual expression in a cohesive urban framework, the rowhouse gives us both a sense of collective and a place to call our own. In a city such as Boston, the reinterpretation of this multi-generational precedent results in the creation of new housing types, ones that are undeniably modern, but also intrinsically rooted in Boston. 4 5 SPLIT ROWHOUSE DAN BELKNAP JULIEN JALBERT PAMELA ANDRADE 6 77 S P L I T
L I G H T
H O U S E S P L I T
R O W H O U S E SPLIT LIGHT HOUSE The split rowhouse typology is a single family unit on a single parcel, in which the indroduction of a courtyard denes the type. The principle organizational strategy involved a tectonically solid base to house service program and garage, a heavily glazed public zone, and volume of private program suspended above. A strict agenda of light was maintained throughout the massing strategy. DAN BELKNAP INSTRUCTOR DAVID HACIN 8 Fourth Floor Plan Unit Section Unit Section Third Floor Plan D A N
B E L K N A P I N S T R U C T O R
H A C I N Second Floor Plan First Floor Plan 9 Front Elevation Side Elevation Side Elevation Street Elevation S P L I T
L I G H T
H O U S E S P L I T
R O W H O U S E 10 Master Plan D A N
B E L K N A P I N S T R U C T O R
H A C I N 11 The precinct exists on a crucial point of connection between the transit hubs of Ruggles Station, Dudley Square, and Boston Medical Center. The amount of bus trafc on each road was heavily considered in the positioning of retail and scale of streets scapes. Figure/Ground Diagram Urban Scale Response Urban Transit Lines S P L I T
L I G H T
H O U S E S P L I T
R O W H O U S E 12 Interior View Natural Light Diagram Corner Porch View D A N
B E L K N A P I N S T R U C T O R
H A C I N Interior View 13 Perspective Typical Block Plan S P L I T
L I G H T
H O U S E S P L I T
R O W H O U S E Solid block apartment type presents problems regarding natural light, ventilation and urban scale in a row house neighborhood. Split row house type is introduced. Natural light and ventilation is improved for upper stories but courtyard is dark and cold. Facade also remains massive in scale. Masses are staggered in section and rear mass is compressed. Light and ventilation is brought further into building and courtyard. Facade is broken and entry porch is articulated. Vertical circulation is placed around courtyard and slab cuts bring light further into building and basement. Visual and acoustic connections are created sectionally. 14 Perspective Site Section D A N
B E L K N A P I N S T R U C T O R
H A C I N 15 Aerial Perspective Site Section S P L I T
L I G H T
H O U S E S P L I T
R O W H O U S E 17 A D A P T A B L E
L I V I N G S P L I T
R O W H O U S E ADAPTABLE LIVING Upon rst designing a siteless rowhouse, this scheme placed the public program towards the more active street, and the private program towards the alley. An outdoor space was placed in between the program, and the circulation was situated around the void created. Once a site was given, the overall parti of the design was modied to accommodate solar orientation, where north-facing units would reorient public program toward the rear. Public alley gardens were also placed adjacent to the north-facing units on the block, which also facilitated the reorientation of public vs. private program. JULIEN JALBERT INSTRUCTOR ALYSON TANGUAY 18 The design looks to create open (green) spaces at three different scales that work in unison in order to create an engaging urban residential site. First, at the small scale of the unit, courtyards are either shared between units or individualized for the row house, allowing for more privatized exterior space for inhabitants. Second, at the intermediate public scale, contained gardens for each individual block, allows for a sense of community within the block. Lastly the large scale open space for the general public create liveliness within a urban setting. Figure/Ground Diagram Existing Green Space Existing Urban Conditions and Zones J U L I E N
J A L B E R T I N S T R U C T O R
T A N G U A Y 19 Aerial Perspective A D A P T A B L E
L I V I N G S P L I T
R O W H O U S E Block Section 20 Unit Section 2 Unit Section 1 First Floor Plan Second Floor Plan J U L I E N
J A L B E R T I N S T R U C T O R
T A N G U A Y 21 Third Floor Plan Interior Perspective Interior Perspective A D A P T A B L E
L I V I N G S P L I T
R O W H O U S E 23 C O R E S
A S
O B J E C T S S P L I T
R O W H O U S E CORES AS OBJECTS The primary idea behind this design centered around perceiving the cores as objects that one moves around once inside. The cores attach themselves to a circulation bar and oat within three types of spaces: public, private, and courtyard. Material is used to call out the cores so they can be understood as a system within the rowhouse. The rooms therefore read as transparent layers with sufcient glass to emphasize this idea. The facade expresses the circulation bar in wood that then catches the projected bay, meant to read as the volume of the courtyard being pushed out to the street. PAMELA ANDRADE INSTRUCTOR SAM CHOI 24 P A M E L A
A N D R A D E I N S T R U C T O R
C H O I Block Section Elevation Block Perspective 25 Block Perspective Block Elevation C O R E S
A S
O B J E C T S S P L I T
R O W H O U S E 26 Site Analysis Figure/Ground Diagram At the urban scale, the blocks are designed as exten- sions of the existing fabric. The periphery green spaces function as buffers to heavy vehicular trafc. A central greenspace with plaza extends out to the other two block precincts in the form of green medi- ans and landscaping to unify the entire site. P A M E L A
A N D R A D E I N S T R U C T O R
C H O I 27 Aerial Perspective Street Section C O R E S
A S
O B J E C T S S P L I T
R O W H O U S E 28 Interior Perspective - Kitchen Interior Perspective - Bedroom Building Section Building Section P A M E L A
A N D R A D E I N S T R U C T O R
C H O I 29 Second Floor Plan First Floor Plan Third Floor Plan Fourth Floor Plan C O R E S
A S
O B J E C T S S P L I T
R O W H O U S E Programmatic Axon 30 31 SKINNY ROWHOUSE ASSIA BELGUEDJ DAN ADAMS DARIEN FORTIER LUCAS CARRIERE BRYAN ALLEN 33 C O U R T Y A R D
V A R I E T Y S K I N N Y
R O W H O U S E COURTYARD VARIETY The skinny row house type accommodates a single family in a typical urban condition of the South End neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts. Although a single unit is to function as a single-family home, the typical unit type was designed around a central courtyard privatizing the discovery and experience of the living spaces towards the interior. Only at two specic living spaces, does the house connect directly with the public: on the roof courtyard and in the main living room space. The organization of the unit around a central courtyard allows for exibility of unit types, where two units can easily be paired to create a large center courtyard while still maintaining an identity for a single unit type. ASSIA BELGUEDJ INSTRUCTOR DAVID HACIN 34 A S S I A
B E L G U E D J I N S T R U C T O R
H A C I N Unit Type A Unit Type B Unit Type C Unit Type D Building Section Building Section 35 Fourth Floor Plan Roof Plan Third Floor Plan Second Floor Plan First Floor Plan Sectional Perspective C O U R T Y A R D
V A R I E T Y S K I N N Y
R O W H O U S E 36 Site Diagrams Site analysis of the existing urban conditions of the neighborhood in regards to transportation (public and private), land use and distribution of green spaces gave for a particular aggregation strategy across the entire site. The site is divided into three larger blocks containing smaller and more intimate blocks within them. The aggregation within the three blocks is to encourage a sense of community amongst the residents, with placement of public spaces for leisure and recreation across the many smaller blocks. Figure/Ground Diagram A S S I A
B E L G U E D J I N S T R U C T O R
H A C I N 37 Aerial Perspective Block Sectional Perspective C O U R T Y A R D
V A R I E T Y S K I N N Y
R O W H O U S E 38 39 U R B A N
S U B U R B S K I N N Y
R O W H O U S E URBAN SUBURB The inspiration for this design came from the phenomena of the suburban lifestyle. Freedom of the outdoors and access to exterior living space lead to the question of how to make this possible in an urban setting. The most logical answer was to utilize space on the roof which typically goes unused. Combining the Skinny Rowhouse typology with a centralized stair core and access to the roof resulted in a balanced programmatic distribution of space. The stair simultaneously maintains privacy along the vertical axis for the bedrooms on either side and brings guests to the public space on the top oors. DAN ADAMS INSTRUCTOR MICHAEL GROGAN 40 D A N
A D A M S I N S T R U C T O R
G O R G A N Site Diagram - Green Space The urban aggregation strategy is based upon two main goalscreating density and encouraging urban neighbors. By providing rooftop yards, residents will have the same opportunity to develop relationships with neighbors just as residents do in a suburban context. This is made possible by providing a high level of dense aggregation. The existing bike path remains to be used as a termination point for pedestrian walkways. Two formal green spaces were also added in order to balance density with open green spaces. Site Diagram - Major/Minor Axis 41 Aerial Perspective Street Elevation U R B A N
S U B U R B S K I N N Y
R O W H O U S E 42 Street View Perspective Figure/Ground Diagram D A N
A D A M S I N S T R U C T O R
G O R G A N 43 Second Floor Plan First Floor Plan Third Floor Plan Fourth Floor Plan U R B A N
S U B U R B S K I N N Y
R O W H O U S E Master Bedroom Perspective 44 Zones Bedrooms/Private Space Core Space Public Space Building Section Building Section D A N
A D A M S I N S T R U C T O R
G O R G A N 45 Interior Perspective Interior Perspective - Living Space U R B A N
S U B U R B S K I N N Y
R O W H O U S E 47 B L U R R I N G
B O U N D A R I E S S K I N N Y
R O W H O U S E BLURRING BOUNDARIES The organization of the skinny rowhouse unit aims to address the challenges of lighting the center of the unit and creating an appropriate connection between exterior and interior. Therefore, private bedrooms were placed into two boxes, both opening outward to enjoy light and views from either end of the unit. The negative space between the two boxes became the public space. Two unit variations resulted from ipping the orientation of the unit from back to front. One unit type had a 2 story street front while the other had a 3 story street front allowing for a distinction in composition between major and minor streets and streets bordering green spaces. The major streets were composed of the taller units repeated rhythmically with the facade designed in a way to excentuate the skinny quality and height of the unit. Minor streets and those bordering southern green spaces were arranged with an AB pattern that allows light to penetrate deeper into the site. DARIEN FORTIER INSTRUCTOR MICHAEL GROGAN 48 D A R I E N
F O R T I E R I N S T R U C T O R
G R O G A N Aerial Perspective 49 Street Perspective Street Section B L U R R I N G
B O U N D A R I E S S K I N N Y
R O W H O U S E 50 Unit A Section Unit B Section Concept Diagram D A R I E N
F O R T I E R I N S T R U C T O R
G R O G A N 51 Second Floor Plan First Floor Plan Unit B B L U R R I N G
B O U N D A R I E S S K I N N Y
R O W H O U S E Third Floor Plan Unit A Third Floor Plan Second Floor Plan First Floor Plan Unit A Axonometric Unit B Axonometric 52 Figure/Ground Diagram The overall site strategy was meant to extend the South End quality into Roxbury and provide a buffer between the residents and the noise from Melnea Cass Ave. Therefore the block strategy of the south was repeated throughout the site, a green belt was enhanced bordering Melnea Cass, and the block oretation of the eastern end of the site was ipped to divert attention away from the large obtrusive existing buildings to the east, and instead create an axis that makes the hospital tower and new park focal points of D A R I E N
F O R T I E R I N S T R U C T O R
G R O G A N Site Analysis 53 Site Plan Street Elevation B L U R R I N G
B O U N D A R I E S S K I N N Y
R O W H O U S E 55 M I X E D
I N C O M E S K I N N Y
R O W H O U S E MIXED INCOME The Roxbury site, unique in both its typology and socioeconomic class became an area of architectural and cultural resolution in this proposed site planning strategy. The presence of lower income/authority housing was addressed both at the level of the site plan and at the scale of the single unit. A varying number of units across the site, a mixture of moderate and luxury, as well as retail all conjoin in an appropriately buffered and scaled resolution, one that is architecturally conscience through a common facade and massing strategy. A landscape element (both greenery and hardscaping features) intersects the blocks at their highest density as an urban relief. At their smaller scale, these spaces become shared, uniting, private, and public elements. LUCAS CARRIERE INSTRUCTOR ALYSON TANGUAY 56 L U C A S
C A R R I E R E I N S T R U C T O R
T A N G U A Y Site Plan 57 Aerial View Block Section M I X E D
I N C O M E S K I N N Y
R O W H O U S E 58 Site Concept Diagram Figure/Ground Diagram In the adjacent comparison between existing conditions and proposed conditions; both levels of the site strategy are illustrated. The site plan, coding the differing unit types, reinforces this strategy at the scale of the block and the individual housing unit. L U C A S
C A R R I E R E I N S T R U C T O R
T A N G U A Y 59 Aerial Perspective Existing Low Income Proposed Green Space Existing Row Houses Proposed Housing M I X E D
I N C O M E S K I N N Y
R O W H O U S E 60 Elevations (Moderate 1) Elevations (Luxury 1) Elevations (Luxury 3) Building Section (Luxury 3) Building Section (Moderate 1) L U C A S
C A R R I E R E I N S T R U C T O R
T A N G U A Y 61 Second Floor Plan First Floor Plan First Floor Plan Second Floor Plan (Luxury 3) (Luxury 3) (Moderate 1) (Moderate 1) M I X E D
I N C O M E S K I N N Y
R O W H O U S E 63 L I V I N G
I N
D I F F E R E N T
W A Y S S K I N N Y
R O W H O U S E LIVING IN DIFFERENT WAYS No two apartments are lived in the same way, but in a row- house development an architect/urban planner must rely on some amount of repetition. This scheme attempted to adapt three identical "skinny" parcels for two types of residents singles and families. The "skinny" parcel were combined with a duplex to create a variety of unit types including ats, family duplex, family "skinny" and "bachlor/bachelorette. This project aims to develop units for different modes of living Flat, Family and Bachelor/Bachelorette. BRYAN ALLEN INSTRUCTOR SAM CHOI 64 Unit Section First Floor Plans B R Y A N
A L L E N I N S T R U C T O R
C H O I 65 Street Elevation Alley Elevation L I V I N G
I N
D I F F E R E N T
W A Y S S K I N N Y
R O W H O U S E 66 Master Plan Sectional Elevation B R Y A N
A L L E N I N S T R U C T O R
C H O I 67 When we began to aggregate the units across the site, it was helpful to analyze the local area to determine important patterns and thoroughfares. After the rst version of the masterplan (top right), the second version begins to address the rift in the urban fabric created by Melnea Cass Blvd (see bottom left). Figure Ground/Site Specic Analysis Urban Site Analysis L I V I N G
I N
D I F F E R E N T
W A Y S S K I N N Y
R O W H O U S E 68 Unit Interior View - in Stair-wall Unit Interior View - From Bedroom to Living Unit Interior View - Living Room B R Y A N
A L L E N I N S T R U C T O R
C H O I 69 Block Study - Ground Plan L I V I N G
I N
D I F F E R E N T
W A Y S S K I N N Y
R O W H O U S E Unit Axons 70 Block Study Long Elevation Block Study Perspective B R Y A N
A L L E N I N S T R U C T O R
C H O I 71 Master Plan Aerial Perspective L I V I N G
I N
D I F F E R E N T
W A Y S S K I N N Y
R O W H O U S E 72 73 PUSH-PULL ROWHOUSE CHRIS FREDA DAN ARTIGES WHITNEY CHICOINE TIM LORANGER 75 M A X I M U M
E X P O S U R E P U S H - P U L L
R O W H O U S E MAXIMUM EXPOSURE The interlocking rowhouse strategy provided me with an opportunity to explore a different type of living experience. The nature of the interlocking typology allows units distinct advantages over the typical rowhouse typology. First, rowhouses are not bound to the typical front-to-back layout which minimizes facade exposure and limits oor plan layout. Interlocking units can push and pull in various ways to allow for a more comfortable living arrangment while maximizing facade exposure. Second, the interlocking strategy allows for units and their occupants to interact in ways otherwise not possible. The interlocking of units creates overlapping of volumes and opportunity for visual and physical access to shared spaces. CHRIS FREDA INSTRUCTOR DAVID HACIN 76 C H R I S
F R E D A I N S T R U C T O R
H A C I N Aerial Perspective 77 Block Plan Street Elevation M A X I M U M
E X P O S U R E P U S H - P U L L
R O W H O U S E 78 Concept Diagram Mixed Use Units The logic of shared space and interactivity from the interlocking townhouse unit was amplied and applied throughout the site. This presented many op- portunities for different qualities and sizes of spaces utilized by residents of the units, blocks, develop- ment and city as a whole. C H R I S
F R E D A I N S T R U C T O R
H A C I N Site Trafc 79 Block Perspective Street Elevation M A X I M U M
E X P O S U R E P U S H - P U L L
R O W H O U S E 80 Section First Floor Plan Second Floor Plan C H R I S
F R E D A I N S T R U C T O R
H A C I N 81 Third Floor Plan Unit Section Courtyard Elevation Front Elevation M A X I M U M
E X P O S U R E P U S H - P U L L
R O W H O U S E 83 P U S H E D
P A R T Y
W A L L P U S H - P U L L
R O W H O U S E PUSHED PARTY WALL The Push-Pull Unit is based on the lateral movement of the party wall separating two parcels. The strategy for this design began with two extended service cores. The party wall wraps around these cores creating large living spaces at the center of the parcels. The push of this volume is accentuated within the adjacent unit by negative space produced from the oor pulling away from the extending volume. Each unit in a pair of parcels is given a larger extended living space. DAN ARTIGES INSTRUCTOR SAM CHOI 84 D A N
A R T I G E S I N S T R U C T O R
C H O I Concept Diagram 85 Site Plan Sectional Model The strategy for the site was to create a green envelope for the aggregated units that connects the two large park spaces while surrounding and separating the neighborhood of aggregated units from the major streets surrounding the site. P U S H E D
P A R T Y
W A L L P U S H - P U L L
R O W H O U S E 86 Parti-walls and cores First Floor Second Floor Facade Building Section D A N
A R T I G E S I N S T R U C T O R
C H O I 87 Second Floor Plan First Floor Plan Third Floor Plan P U S H E D
P A R T Y
W A L L P U S H - P U L L
R O W H O U S E 89 F L E X I B L E
P A R T I - W A L L P U S H - P U L L
R O W H O U S E FLEXIBLE PARTYWALL The nature of the push-pull rowhouse type allows for the designer to take advantage of a exible party wall. In my design, there is a shared zone between two row houses where the party wall undulates back and forth. This provides the opportunity for certain rooms to get larger where they need to, and for the circulation space to take up less space in the individual units, by sharing one zone. It also provides an opportunity for a shared light well to bring natural daylight into the center of the units. The party wall is thus semi-transparent at points to allow for natural light to penetrate into both units, from above and from the front and rear facades, while maintaining proper privacy between the units. WHITNEY CHICOINE INSTRUCTOR ALYSON TANGUAY 90 W H I T N E Y
C H I C O I N E I N S T R U C T O R
T A N G U A Y Concept Diagram First Floor Plan Basement Floor Plan 91 Building Section Second Floor Plan Third Floor Plan F L E X I B L E
P A R T I - W A L L P U S H - P U L L
R O W H O U S E 92 Site Plan Site Diagram The site design is centered around the two main streets, Washington Street and Harrison Avenue. These streets are treated separately, Washington representing the commercial center of the area, and Harrison as a green- way-type boulevard. The bike path is spread through the site, and various parks widen the path. Block Elevation W H I T N E Y
C H I C O I N E I N S T R U C T O R
T A N G U A Y 93 Typical Block Plan Street Section F L E X I B L E
P A R T I - W A L L P U S H - P U L L
R O W H O U S E 94 95 D O U B L E
F R O N T
B L O C K P U S H - P U L L
R O W H O U S E DOUBLE FRONT BLOCK The push/pull typology allows the designer to create unusually large rooms for a rowhouse by having the ability to shift and abstract the normally straight parti wall. In doing so this unit became volumetrically symmetrical. The living room was on the front for one unit, while on the back for the other and so forth for each room in the unit. The only aspect which was not symetrical was the entry sequence. Each unit had a main entry in the front with a car port in the rear. Because of this double front situation the ally was widened and turned into a pedestrian pathway with a large island running the length of each block in the middle of the parking lanes. This creates a gure ground contrary to that of the existing street condition on the opposite side of the proposed line of the rowhouse. TIM LORANGER INSTRUCTOR SAM CHOI 96 T I M
L O R A N G E R I N S T R U C T O R
C H O I First Floor Plan Third Floor Plan Second Floor Plan Fourth Floor Plan 97 Push/Pull Front Elevation Skinny Elevation Block A Street Section D O U B L E
F R O N T
B L O C K P U S H - P U L L
R O W H O U S E Push/Pull Back Elevation 98 Master Plan T I M
L O R A N G E R I N S T R U C T O R
C H O I 99 Washington Street is the primary retail center on the site and this was continued with the placement of most retail units along Washington. Harrison is a less traveled resedential street which becomes a spine for the residential streets to branch off of. The park was moved from one end of the site to the other so that it was closer to the exisiting school and the bulk of the resedential units on site. Site Analysis Site Analysis Site Analysis D O U B L E
F R O N T
B L O C K P U S H - P U L L
R O W H O U S E 100 Model Perspective T I M
L O R A N G E R I N S T R U C T O R
C H O I Model Perspective Model Perspective Model Perspective 101 Perspective Block B Elevation D O U B L E
F R O N T
B L O C K P U S H - P U L L
R O W H O U S E 102 Terrace (Roof) Perspective Block A Section T I M
L O R A N G E R I N S T R U C T O R
C H O I 103 Block B Section D O U B L E
F R O N T
B L O C K P U S H - P U L L
R O W H O U S E Street Perspective 104 105 STACKED DUPLEXES ALEXANDER DAVIS BENJAMIN HOCHBERG SARA LAPORTE 106 107 D E V I A N T
R O W H O U S E S T A C K E D
D U P L E X E S DEVIANT ROWHOUSE What is a Rowhouse? Does it repeat over and over again? Does it share a constant parti wall? Does it keep a constant street edge? Throughout the development of this project, at both unit and site scales, there was a constant idea to test the boundaries of what a neighborhood of rowhouses should and can be. Although the design scale varies throughout, the concept remains the same. At both unit and site scales, the pedestrian travels along a threading circulation path that stitches spaces together (apartments or blocks). This resulting corridor ends in either an exterior terrace or large recreational area. The resulting design, although deviant from normal Rowhouse design, explores the possibilities of the rowhouse archetype. ALEXANDER DAVIS INSTRUCTOR MICHAEL GROGAN 108 At the site scale, the varying blocks are treated very similar to the various apartment units at the unit scale. A pedestrian corridor threads its way through the site much like the main staircase threads through each rowhouse. This pedestrian corridor meanders through the site connecting each block with impor- tant existing buildings, proposed commercial space and large recreational areas. As this corridor passes through blocks, open spaces are created that allow for various social and recreational activities to take place. A L E X A N D E R
D A V I S I N S T R U C T O R
G R O G A N 109 Site Plan Street Perspective Street Perspective D E V I A N T
R O W H O U S E S T A C K E D
D U P L E X E S 110 Section Model with Pedestrian Corridor Street Section A L E X A N D E R
D A V I S I N S T R U C T O R
G R O G A N 111 Block Plan Stitched Open Space Threaded Pedestrian Corridor Automobile Trafc Hierarchy D E V I A N T
R O W H O U S E S T A C K E D
D U P L E X E S 112 Unit Section 2 Unit Section 1 First Floor Plan Second Floor Plan A L E X A N D E R
D A V I S I N S T R U C T O R
G R O G A N 113 Fourth Floor Plan Third Floor Plan Unit Section 4 Unit Section 3 D E V I A N T
R O W H O U S E S T A C K E D
D U P L E X E S 115 P E N E T R A T I N G
M A S S S T A C K E D
D U P L E X E S PENETRATING MASS The row house is designed for the mass to interact with exterior space. The mass is penetrated by exterior spaces to allow both the ground oor and upper oor apartments their own front door and access from both the alley and the street. Portions of the building volume protrude to allow for private exterior spaces. When these spaces interact with their environment on the buildings facade, it results in shadow. Futhermore, when they interact with street level, they create a mediating zone between the sidewalk and the semi-private entry. BENJAMIN HOCHBERG INSTRUCTOR ALYSON TANGUAY 116 B E N J A M I N
H O C H B E R G I N S T R U C T O R
T A N G U A Y Building Types Diagram Urban Concept Diagram - Two sides joined with a pin The site has three conditions of street: a long busy street that acts as a barrier, main South End streets, and smaller interior streets. The three types of buildings respond to each of these conditions. Tying them together and uniting the new development with the urban fabric is a border park. Public Space Live/work Duplex Over Retail Duplex Over Retail Flat Stacked Duplexes 117 Detail Block Plan Street Elevation P E N E T R A T I N G
M A S S S T A C K E D
D U P L E X E S 118 Street Section First Floor Plan Second Floor Plan B E N J A M I N
H O C H B E R G I N S T R U C T O R
T A N G U A Y 119 Fourth Floor Plan Third Floor Plan Street Elevation P E N E T R A T I N G
M A S S S T A C K E D
D U P L E X E S 121 " L "
S E C T I O N S T A C K E D
D U P L E X E S "L" SECTION The stacked duplex unit type incorporates four distinct units over a 40 x 60 parcel. While typically the units are stacked above one another, this design takes advantage of an L-shaped section to accommodate circulation requirements and organize program spaces within the unit. To reach the top units one enters through a thick central core. This zone houses both the circulation for each unit as well as the service spaces, and modulates the living spaces for each unit. Upon entering each unit one arrives in an informal living area, and passes through the kitchen and dining areas to reach the formal living area on an upper level. The bedrooms are located on the upper oors. SARA LAPORTE INSTRUCTOR SAM CHOI 122 S A R A
L A P O R T E I N S T R U C T O R
C H O I Sectional Perspective Site Plan 123 Typical Block Plan Block Perspective Elevation " L "
S E C T I O N S T A C K E D
D U P L E X E S 124 Figure/Ground Diagram As the site lies at the intersection of several programmatic zones including a residential zone to the north, institutional to the east, and primarily industrial to the south and southwest the question of edges was important. A landscaped buffer was placed along Melnea Cass, while the typical block plan was altered to avoid creating additional intersections along Melnea Cass. Because of its location, the site is also surrounded by irregular geometries. Where these geometries are reconciled, pocket parks are placed that relate to the neighborhood on a smaller scale, while the existing park to the north relates to the larger community. Stacked duplexes are placed along the main thoroughfares, while interlocking units are placed along the north to south connecting one way streets. To help keep trafc off of these streets, a two way north-south connector is located on the eastern end of the site. Commercial program lls the southern most blocks to relate to their industrial and commercial context. Existing Vehicular Circulation Proposed Vehicular Circulation S A R A
L A P O R T E I N S T R U C T O R
C H O I Existing Green Space Proposed Green Space 125 Unit Aggregation Diagram Sectional Perspective STACKED DUPLEX: ONE PARCEL: 2 UNITS INTERLOCKING: TYPICAL UNIT: 2 UNITS STACKED DUPLEX: RETAIL UNIT: 3 UNITS / RETAIL STACKED DUPLEX: TYPICAL UNIT: 4 UNITS AGGREGATION UNIT TYPES EXISTING BUILDINGS " L "
S E C T I O N S T A C K E D
D U P L E X E S 126 Third Floor Plan Programmatic Diagram First Floor Plan Second Floor Plan Unit Concept Diagram S A R A
L A P O R T E I N S T R U C T O R
C H O I 127 Fourth Floor Plan Unit Circulation and Spatial Separation Fifth Floor Plan Unit Perspectives " L "
S E C T I O N S T A C K E D
D U P L E X E S Unit Perspectives 128 129 2 DUPLEXES OVER FLAT ASHLEY HOPWOOD DENNIS GREENWOOD ERICA LELIEVRE NICOLE FICHERA SAMUEL CLEMENT 131 B L E N D I N G
T Y P E S 2
D U P L E X E S
O V E R
F L A T BLENDING TYPES The idea for my unit and master plan is to blend families and working singles. The unit plan, while balanced in square footage, has more bedrooms with less living space for the working singles, and fewer bedrooms and more living space for the families. The blocks on the North edge of the site feature the family units, blocks on the South edge of the site feature multi-tenant units, and the blocks in between feature combination units. Live work units line the blocks along Melnea Cass. The green space on the site is a combination of two large parks, one for families and one for working singles, and a buffer zone between housing and the busy Melnea Cass Boulevard. ASHLEY HOPWOOD INSTRUCTOR ALYSON TANGUAY 132 A S H L E Y
H O P W O O D I N S T R U C T O R
T A N G U A Y Aerial Perspective 133 Perspective - Family Park View From Second Floor Balcony B L E N D I N G
T Y P E S 2
D U P L E X E S
O V E R
F L A T View From Third Floor Balcony 134 Concept Diagram - Housing Types The master plan is arranged according to major thoroughfares and existing neighborhoods. Family housing is close to the housing developments in the Northwest edge of the site while multi-tenant housing is close to the major businesses and commercial areas lining the site. Major pedestrian roads respond to the parks and retail areas of the site. Family Units Multi-tenant Units Live Work Units A S H L E Y
H O P W O O D I N S T R U C T O R
T A N G U A Y 135 Perspective of Multi-Tenant Park Site Analysis - Vehicular Trafc Site Analysis - Pedestrian Trafc B L E N D I N G
T Y P E S 2
D U P L E X E S
O V E R
F L A T 136 Section through Alley First Floor Plan Second Floor Plan A S H L E Y
H O P W O O D I N S T R U C T O R
T A N G U A Y 137 Third Floor Plan Street Perspective from Melnea Cass Boulevard. B L E N D I N G
T Y P E S 2
D U P L E X E S
O V E R
F L A T 139 V O I D
+
W E D G E 2
D U P L E X E S
O V E R
F L A T VOID + WEDGE The project explores the typology of the rowhouse (specically duplexes over a at) by removing party walls, a typically dening characteristic. A void replaces the party wall and becomes an exterior zone of pushing and pulling private spaces. This creates a reciprocal relationship between the units while allowing light and ventilation to reach the at below. This void space then becomes a exible zone in the rowhouse as it can be manipulated to adjust to site geometries. A wedge shaped variation of the design allows a strip of rowhouses to curve along the block. In a similar approach, wedge shaped greenspaces are used on the larger urban scale to regulate city block geometries. DENNIS GREENWOOD INSTRUCTOR ALLYSON TANGUAY 140 D E N N I S
G R E E N W O O D I N S T R U C T O R
T A N G U A Y Aerial Perspective 141 Street Perspective Block Section V O I D
+
W E D G E 2
D U P L E X E S
O V E R
F L A T 142 Site Diagram The site seeks to bridge the divide created by Washington Street while providing a buffer from the Melnea Cass thoroughfare. First oor retail units line pedestrian friendly Washington Street and a bike path and row of streetside trees skirt Melnea Cass. Rowhouse variations were created to satisfy the needs of the site and the principles of the design. The greenspaces are designed to regulate the city blocks, while creating a focal point within the site. Residential (3 Units per Parcel) Retail Residential 53 Mixed Units Commercial Approx. 200,000 SF D E N N I S
G R E E N W O O D I N S T R U C T O R
T A N G U A Y 143 Concept Diagram Street Perspective Street Perspective Wedge Shaped Unit Variation V O I D
+
W E D G E 2
D U P L E X E S
O V E R
F L A T 144 Street Perspective Block Section D E N N I S
G R E E N W O O D I N S T R U C T O R
T A N G U A Y 145 Street Perspective Block Elevation V O I D
+
W E D G E 2
D U P L E X E S
O V E R
F L A T 146 Unit Section 1 First Floor Plan Second Floor Plan D E N N I S
G R E E N W O O D I N S T R U C T O R
T A N G U A Y 147 Third Floor Plan Unit Section 2 Sectional Diagram Unit Elevation V O I D
+
W E D G E 2
D U P L E X E S
O V E R
F L A T 149 D O U B L E
W I D E 2
D U P L E X E S
O V E R
F L A T DOUBLE WIDE The ground oor unit is a at that takes up two parcels, and so becomes 40 foot wide. Above it are two duplexes, each 20 wide. These three units share a 14 wide central core that holds all of the bathrooms, kitchens, and closet spaces. The residual spaces on either side hold the living spaces, such as the bedrooms and living rooms. ERICA LELIEVRE INSTRUCTOR MICHAEL GROGAN 150 E R I C A
L E L I E V R E I N S T R U C T O R
G R O G A N 151 Section Model Block Elevation D O U B L E
W I D E 2
D U P L E X E S
O V E R
F L A T 152 Zoning Diagram E R I C A
L E L I E V R E I N S T R U C T O R
G R O G A N The site is split into three different zones, each of which has its own interior community open space. Retail space is spread throughout the site in two different ways. The rst, which can be seen along Washington street, is the exterior facing retail meant for the general public. Here the retail would be located on the rst oor with duplexes above. The second type of retail is the interior facing retail which is located inside each of the zones. This would be community space for the people who live in the area. This interior facing retail has two different unit types. In the rst type the retail is on the ground oor with the duplex units above. In the second type, seen on the corners, community space happens on all three oors. Figure Ground Diagram Unit Types Diagram 153 Street Section Street Perspective Street Perspective D O U B L E
W I D E 2
D U P L E X E S
O V E R
F L A T The interior-facing retail space has a large buffer zone between the street and the open space that becomes a walking arcade. This connects all of the retail space and also becomes a part of the pathways that connect the corner community spaces. 154 Perspective Section Type 2 The open spaces inside the zones also become program. In this example the playground is sunken into the ground, eliminating the need for fencing. Section Type 1 E R I C A
L E L I E V R E I N S T R U C T O R
G R O G A N 155 Perspective Block Diagram or Unit Diagram D O U B L E
W I D E 2
D U P L E X E S
O V E R
F L A T Section Type 2 Section Type 1 156 Longitudinal Section Lateral Section First Floor Plan Second Floor Plan E R I C A
L E L I E V R E I N S T R U C T O R
G R O G A N 157 Third Floor Plan D O U B L E
W I D E 2
D U P L E X E S
O V E R
F L A T Interior Perspective Corner Elevation Front Elevation 159 T H I C K
Z O N E
C O R E 2
D U P L E X E S
O V E R
F L A T THICK ZONE CORE This project is based on a basic unit type of two duplexes over a at. The main concept is the expansion of the party wall between the two vertical duplex units into a thick zone, which contains all of the closed poche functions for the entire building: primarily circulation, bathrooms, kitchens, closets, laundry, et cetera. Attached to the thick zone on each side are closed bedroom boxes, offset at split levels. Thus, all of the private functions of the units (service and sleeping) occur in the closed volumes of the bedrooms and the thick central core. The public living spaces (kitchens, dining rooms and living rooms) are then formed by the open interstitial spaces between these closed elements. NICOLE FICHERA INSTRUCTOR SAM CHOI 160 N I C O L E
F I C H E R A I N S T R U C T O R
C H O I Edge Block Elevation Axonometric Thick Zone Applied to Block Facade The diagram at right depicts the unit concept as applied to the block. The central thick zone within the unit is conceived as something which is experientialyou are required at all times to interact with it and pass through it to get from space to space. By applying that concept to the front of the aggregated block, a thick facade zone is formed which mediates between the private world of the unit interior and the public life of the street. The elevation is conceived in terms of the block as a series of carved layers and frames with a projecting living room volume. The layers make the thick zone inhabitable in the same way as the core. On a larger scale, the concept of a thick zone is used to form a plan based on superblocks. The size of the blocks responds to the character of the site. It is a part of the South End, which has a ne-grained rowhouse texture, but it is additionaly a fringe condition, surrounded by strips of industrial and medical buildings. Thus, a modied version of the block elevation incorporates a block-size unifying frame element, and has less projections (which serve to break down scale). Thus, the edge walls of the super-block are unied and read as larger scale, and the interiors of the blocks respond to the residential, individual rowhouses. 161 Site Plan Block Elevation Street Perspective T H I C K
Z O N E
C O R E 2
D U P L E X E S
O V E R
F L A T 162 N I C O L E
F I C H E R A I N S T R U C T O R
C H O I Section Option 2: PACKED CENTRAL CORE thickened party wall containing poche spaces [wet + dry], leaving side spaces as public rooms Section Option 1: SPLIT LEVEL increased spatial complexity and depth, diagonal relationship of public and private HYBRID RESULT thickened party wall containing poche spaces; private and public spaces offset L I V I N G
S P A C E B E D R O O M C O R E Organizational Concept Diagram 163 Axonometric Diagram T H I C K
Z O N E
C O R E 2
D U P L E X E S
O V E R
F L A T 164 Unit Section First Floor Plan Second Floor Plan N I C O L E
F I C H E R A I N S T R U C T O R
C H O I The inhabitable core is modied by a series of additive and subtractive operations. Spaces are carved out of the thick zone for spaces such as bathrooms, kitchens, and circulation. In other cases, the core expands, sticking out into the room with balconies and replaces. The nature of a rowhouse is to have long, narrow spaces; by making the core inhabitable and letting it divide spaces by pushing out, the rooms can be divided into more appropriate proportional dimensions. In the at unit, the core breaks off into smaller pieces, allowing a kitchen space in the center. In all three units, the user constantly moves in and out of the core, using it as circulation and inhabitable space. Gaps in the third oor allow the core to read as an uninterrupted wall rising through the space. The separation of the bedroom volumes on each end creates a dramatic open vertical space above the dining room, bringing light into the middle of the unit with a skylight. 165 Fourth Floor Plan Third Floor Plan T H I C K
Z O N E
C O R E 2
D U P L E X E S
O V E R
F L A T Exploded Axon 167 T H E
M I S S I N G
L I N K 2
D U P L E X E S
O V E R
F L A T THE MISSING LINK The goal of the housing project was to create an ultra pedestrian friendly master plan that would draw pedestrians from the Boston Medical Center west of the site as well as pedestrians from the apartment complexes to the north. In order to do this a hierarchy of open spaces is arranged to tempt public use. To draw users from the apartments a baseball/recreational eld was placed at the Northern most edge of the site. Likewise a vast stretch of landscape tempts the Mass Ave travelers to enter the south west portion of the site. These open spaces are attached to a single road going through the site about which smaller open spaces are arranged to encourage travel to the commercial center along Harrison Ave. SAMUEL CLEMENT INSTRUCTOR ALYSON TANGUAY 168 S A M U E L
C L E M E N T I N S T R U C T O R
T A N G U A Y Aerial Perspective 169 Block Plan Block Elevation T H E
M I S S I N G
L I N K 2
D U P L E X E S
O V E R
F L A T 170 Building Section Building Section S A M U E L
C L E M E N T I N S T R U C T O R
T A N G U A Y Unit Concept Diagram 171 Second Floor Plan First Floor Plan Third Floor Plan T H E
M I S S I N G
L I N K 2
D U P L E X E S
O V E R
F L A T 172 Concept Diagram Building Types Diagram The pedestrians paths of movement along the center road and the bike path along Melnea Cass draw trav- elers to rows of commercial development (grey) along Washington St. and Harrison Ave. Staggered blocks are generated to widen the alley as a second row house type (Gate Unit, in black) negotiates this shift. S A M U E L
C L E M E N T I N S T R U C T O R
T A N G U A Y 173 Street Perspective Street Section T H E
M I S S I N G
L I N K 2
D U P L E X E S
O V E R
F L A T 174 175 INTERLOCKING ROWHOUSE ALLISON BROWNE DIANA LATTARI 177 G R E E N
C O R R I D O R S I N T E R L O C K I N G
R O W H O U S E GREEN CORRIDORS At the unit scale the architecture take the attitude that one can design with specic lifestyles in mind. At the block scale yards are dened by sectional variation in order to create thresholds into the different apartments. Raised green space is given over to the street creating more private outdoor spaces behind. At the scale of the city three green corridors are main throughfares and retail is introduced to respond to specic conditions on the site, such as the institutions surrounding it. ALLISON BROWNE INSTRUCTOR ALYSON TANGUAY 178 A L L I S O N
B R O W N E I N S T R U C T O R
T A N G U A Y Site Plan Block Elevation 179 Concept Diagram G R E E N
C O R R I D O R S I N T E R L O C K I N G
R O W H O U S E 180 Site Analysis - Land Use Zoning and Regulating Lines Building Section Building Section Our site sits on a transitionary area in the urban fabric. It is bordered by Melnea Cass Boulevard which acts as a division between regular and irregular road types. It is also at a place where many different types of zoning come together. A L L I S O N
B R O W N E I N S T R U C T O R
T A N G U A Y 181 Second Floor Plan First Floor Plan Third Floor Plan Fourth Floor Plan G R E E N
C O R R I D O R S I N T E R L O C K I N G
R O W H O U S E 182 183 TWO WIDE The interlocking prototype of row housing consists of two units that share one parcel. The units interlock volumetrically, wrapping around each other across the parcel and each consisting of three volumes. The dynamic shift in shape and size of the volumes changes in response to the parcel dimensions. The top volume holds private program, the middle public, and the ground a mix of both. All circulation through the units is located in the center of the parcel along the party wall that separates the two units. Additionally, each unit has an entrance from the street as well as access to a back alley, which also accomodates parking for each unit. DIANA LATTARI INSTRUCTOR SAM CHOI T W O
W I D E I N T E R L O C K I N G
R O W H O U S E 184 Fourth Floor Plan PLAN Unit Section 2 Unit Section 1 First Floor Plan D I A N A
L A T T A R I I N S T R U C T O R
C H O I Second Floor Plan Third Floor Plan 185 Typical Unit Front Elevation Corner Unit Front Elevation Corner Unit Side Elevation Sectional Model Through Typical Interlocking Units T W O
W I D E I N T E R L O C K I N G
R O W H O U S E 186 Typical Block Parti Diagram D I A N A
L A T T A R I I N S T R U C T O R
C H O I Street Perspective 187 The site is bound by prominent existing roads. By extending these roads through the site, I was able to create a grid, broken into three zones, within which I placed the city blocks. The size and shape of these blocks picks up on nearby existing urban fabric patterning. A belt of greenspace acts as a buffer along Melnea Cass Boulevard in each of the zones. Figure/Ground Diagram Site Analysis: Hierarchy of Greenspace Site Analysis: Major and Minor Streets T W O
W I D E I N T E R L O C K I N G
R O W H O U S E 188 There are two different unit types included in my aggregation: the interlocking unit type (below) and the stacked duplex unit type (right). These types yielded multiple unit variations, some accomodating retail space on the ground oor or adjusting to meet a block corner condition. The varying unit types were then used to create patterning in the block schemes as well as the overall site aggregation. D I A N A
L A T T A R I I N S T R U C T O R
C H O I 189 In addition to identifying each dif- ferent unit used in the aggregation, these diagrams also discuss the program of each layout as well as public and private areas, with green representing the most private of spaces and yellow representing the most public. T W O
W I D E I N T E R L O C K I N G
R O W H O U S E 190 Site Section Through Typical Interlocking Units D I A N A
L A T T A R I I N S T R U C T O R
C H O I Block Plan 191 Site Section Through Corner Interlocking Units T W O
W I D E I N T E R L O C K I N G
R O W H O U S E 192 ROWHOUSES ARCH 5110 HOUSING AND AGGREGATION SPRING 2010 The projects in this volume were designed as prototypical residential types and city block plans by fourth-year students in the undergradu ate architecture program at Northeastern University in Boston.