Studio Luz Architecture and Urban Design

Piedmont Park Square

BAY VILLAGE, HISTORICAL LANDMARK DISTRICT, BOSTON, MA

Multi-unit residential 8 units, 25,000 sf, 10 parking spaces
Completion: 2016

Project Overview

Attention was given to Piedmont Park Square’s contemporary design, while respecting the local historical character of the Bay Village Landmark District. The use of brick is in direct relationship with the overall historic character of the neighborhood. The project provides an opportunity to live in residences that are both particular to Bay Village and true to the period in which they are constructed.
Piedmont Park - Sketch

Project Team

Hansy Better Barraza
Anthony J. Piermarini
Dan Artiges
James Bogle
Dane Clark
John Disalvo
David Franke
Sonny Lee
Leil Legband
Lisa Lostritto
Drew Manahan
Aaron Tobey

Developer

TCR Development
JB Ventures

Code Consultant

AKFGroup
Hal Cutler

Specification

Kalin Assoc.

Acoustical Engineer

Cavanaugh Tocci

Environmental Engineer

EBI Consulting

Civil Engineer

Boston Coastal Consulting

Geotechnical Engineer

Geotechnical Consultants Inc.

Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing Engineer

Norian / Siani Engineering Inc.

Structural Engineer

Roome & Guarracino

General Contractor

Atlantic Management Group

Photography

Gustav Hoiland

HISTORICAL NEIGHBORHOOD

NEW GATEWAY, URBAN THRESHOLD

The Piedmont Park Square building is a new gateway to the historic Bay Village Neighborhood. This urban threshold weaves together the larger scale gestures of the neighborhood’s edge buildings into the smaller residential rowhouses.

DESIGN

CONTEXTUAL INFLUENCES, CONTEMPORARY DESIGN AESTHETIC

By blending contextual influences with a contemporary design aesthetic, the project provides an opportunity to live in residences that are both particular to Bay Village and true to the period in which they are constructed.

MATERIALS + DETAILS

ZIPPER COURSE, STUBBLE COURSE

The organization of units side-by-side is articulated by “Zipper Course” brickwork. The brick facade above the entry features “Stubble Course” brickwork that further demarcates the entries. The design incorporates two types of brick; an iron spot red and iron spot charcoal brick which further distinguish the unit types and relates to the overall historic character of the neighborhood.
Piedmont Park - Southwest Corner
Piedmont Park - Elevations
Piedmont Park - Southeast Corner
Piedmont Park - Southeast Elevation View
Piedmont Park - Dovetail Corner Steel Structure
Piedmont Park - Dovetail Corner
Piedmont Park - Zipper and Stubble Brickwork
Piedmont Park - Rowhouse Floorplan
Piedmont Park - Kitchen to Living Room view
Piedmont Park - Roof
Piedmont Park - Flat Unit Staircase
Piedmont Park - View of City
Piedmont Park - Entrance Lobby
Piedmont Park - Townhouse Lobby Entry
Piedmont Park - Southwest Recessed Entry
Piedmont Park - Townhouse Recessed Entry
Piedmont Park - Metal & Brick Detail
Piedmont Park - Balcony and Stairs to Rooftop
Piedmont Park - Recessed Entrances

About the Residences

AT PIEDMONT PARK SQUARE

The design responds to the historic context of the site, and consists of a primary wood frame construction, with brick, fiber cement, and metal accents on the exterior facades, accommodating four townhouse style units, four apartment flats, and below grade parking. The building acts as the urban threshold that weaves together the larger scale of buildings located along the high spine of the city and the lower scale of the older and smaller residential fabric found in Bay Village. The townhouse flats are floor through units, which create stacked living situations. This organization is expressed most significantly at the intersection of Piedmont and Church Street. This corner has an interlocking massing of large windows, resembling a dovetail.

Sustainable practices were considered during the design process. Brick was used for the exterior skin because it now requires 70% less energy to produce than it did in 1970, it was locally sourced and due to its durability and permanence qualities, it is less likely to end up in a landfill. High performance foam insulation was used throughout the project with the building envelop exceeding code requirements. Sustainable harvested wood, LOW or NO-VOC paints and finishes were used throughout. The project also met Energy Star Standards and met the Massachusetts STRETCH Code.

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