Philadelphia’s Front Street corridor is defined by the elevated train line running overhead. Historically a divider, in recent years the el has become an attractor for retail and night life – as well as housing development. El Rosé fits eleven apartments and a ground level commercial space into a 36-foot-wide, 100-foot-long through-block parcel spanning from Front to Lee Street, a narrow, overgrown alley. The gritty site context inspired a textured, layered outer shell in a mix of dark gray corrugated metal and fiber cement lap siding. A range of profiles and widths organized in a quilted pattern create visual variety along the south-facing lot line wall where windowing was not permitted by building code. A carved exterior corridor entry off Front Street leads to a central social courtyard and lightwell, creating a porous massing with bright pink carved social spaces visible throughout the urban fabric in and around the el.
PROJECT TEAM
Structural Engineer
Larsen & Landis
Electrical Engineer
J&M Engineering
Mechanical Engineer
J&M Engineering
General Contractor
Callahan Ward
El Rosé
Category
2020 Architectural Excellence DESIGN AWARDS > Architecture
Description
FIRM
ISA
PROJECT LOCATION
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
LOCAL AIA CHAPTER
AIA Philadelphia
IMAGE CAPTION & CREDITS
Image 1 // The gritty site context along Front Street inspired a textured, layered outer shell in a mix of dark gray corrugated metal and fiber cement lap siding. Credit: Sam Oberter Photography
Image 2 // The project is highly visible from the platform of the elevated train line at Girard Street Station. Credit: Sam Oberter Photography
Image 3 // The porous massing contains bright pink carved social spaces throughout the building which are visible throughout the urban fabric in and around the el. Credit: Sam Oberter Photography
Image 4 // The porous massing contains bright pink carved social spaces throughout the building which are visible throughout the urban fabric in and around the el. Credit: Sam Oberter Photography