Vertical Neighborhood
PITTSBURGH, PA
CONCEPT
In a site location with a current population of 19 residents, this project offered a unique opportunity to create a neighborhood standard for future residential development. In addition to being a variable income apartment complex, this facility’s amenities act as a centralized destination to help empower and connect future residents of the entire neighborhood.
GOAL
The goal of this project was to realize a facility that brings residents together in creating a stronger and farther-reaching sense of place in a newly developing neighborhood. Community center amenities combined with short and long-term residents will offer a new example of how to unify multiple programs that generate more interaction and meaningful relationships between residents and with their built environment.
PROGRAMMING
Like meandering paths within a neighborhood, circulation to and from all spaces surround and overtake the overall design of the building. Levels three and four house all of the residential units with communal amentities on each floor including a communal kitchen, pet washing station, and outdoor dog run. Short-term rental units do not contain a private kitchen but have a direct connection with the communal kitchen, which offers an opportunity for increased interaction and a unique experience of socialization for both visitors and residents. These floors also have a front yard/backyard-feel with private patios off of the backside, but outdoor community space where people can meet and socialize surrounding the front doors. Community spaces are dominated in the first two floors with a coffee shop, community library, community garden, and children’s daycare facility. Many of the community spaces are focused along the side of the building with the second floor rooftop terrace that offers a visual connection from one space to another.
LEVEL ONE
COFEE SHOP
LIBRARY AND AUDITORIUM
LEVEL TWO
CHILD CARE PLAY AREA
VIEW OF SECOND FLOOR ROOFTOP
LEVEL THREE
COMMUNAL KITCHEN
The communal kitchen is a space where people can come together through food. By sharing the skill of cooking and sharing meals together, this space can act as a central hub for residents. The large windows lining the back wall overlook not only a beautiful view of the river and downtown Pittsburgh, but also the basketball court and the community garden on the second floor. By visually connecting these spaces, the users are reminded of the constant connection between activities.
