STRIP DISTRICT APARTMENT COMPLEX (w. Aileena Gray)
This semester-long project required the design of a river-front apartment complex in Pittsburgh's Strip District neighborhood. We began the semester with precedent research about eco-machines, such as rainwater collection, rain gardens, riparian zone, bioswales, and thermal mass. We also researched the Nemausus housing complex (Jean Nouvel, Nimes, France), with particular interest in the successful social aspect of the community. We used this focus on encouraging successful community combined with our interest in rebuilding a healthy riparian zone along the Allegheny River to drive our project.
We were required to consider the appropriate density for our apartment or rowhouse style housing, and we chose a less dense arrangement with special focus on limiting the footprint in the fragile riparian zone. We designed a series of terraced steps along the riverfront, extending into the backyards of the housing units, which would help to slow down the flow of runoff from the heavily paved Strip District, as well as filter water and prevent erosion. The terraces provide the maximum growing surface in order to improve the existing riparian zone. These terraces were designed with large concrete retaining walls which extended into the units to form the main structural walls. The retaining walls also acted as seating, privacy fences, and planting beds in places throughout the site. In addition to the retaining walls and terraces designed to improve the riparian zone, we also incorporated bioswales along the community "street edge" between sets of units and additional roof gardens in order to filter runoff and provide additional growing space.
We were required to consider the appropriate density for our apartment or rowhouse style housing, and we chose a less dense arrangement with special focus on limiting the footprint in the fragile riparian zone. We designed a series of terraced steps along the riverfront, extending into the backyards of the housing units, which would help to slow down the flow of runoff from the heavily paved Strip District, as well as filter water and prevent erosion. The terraces provide the maximum growing surface in order to improve the existing riparian zone. These terraces were designed with large concrete retaining walls which extended into the units to form the main structural walls. The retaining walls also acted as seating, privacy fences, and planting beds in places throughout the site. In addition to the retaining walls and terraces designed to improve the riparian zone, we also incorporated bioswales along the community "street edge" between sets of units and additional roof gardens in order to filter runoff and provide additional growing space.