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client: BPG – Buccini/Pollin Group
employer: MSR Design (formerly MS&R, Ltd) Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle
role: Project Architect | Designer
year: 2006-07
renderings: mrlw
In 2007 an interesting opportunity came up to explore a mixed-use housing solution in Wilmington Delaware.
The existing Wolworth’s / Happy Harry’s in the Market Street historic district was selected as a potential development property, to expand with additional levels of housing above an existing store.
The second floor above the street level was largely vacant, and the infrastructure existed for additional levels to be added.
A target unit count and mix was developed, and between the MS&R East Office in Maryland and the MS&R Minneapolis office, we split the duties of developing the more appealing options.
The project itself never found realization, but for me, it was an interesting exploration in unitized design and coming up with a more interesting solution to a ‘typical box’ kind of problem.
After a round of reviews and discussion – the two options left for exploration were #3 & #5. As option #5 was in my set (4-6), I developed that option further.
One of the stated design goals was to “Exploit the tension that occurs between old and new architecture”.
In my case, I took that to mean that the massing and expression of the addition was meant to be articulated differently than the Art Deco building below it. Essentially being able to treat the two as separate entities with a symbiosis.
To that end, I explored a way to articulate not only the new massing from old, but from itself. Essentially exploring a way of stacking units to maintain their own individuality.
My personal criteria was to make sure that each unit had access to a roof deck area, and daylighting, essentially turning the addition in on itself, while also taking advantage of street views.
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