Do you ever walk down a street and see a building that looks interesting but that something is off, as if it does not belong there? For instance, the image below features two buildings that look the same yet it is confusing to differentiate which is the old and which is the new. I believe this approach is unnecessary. It is almost impossible to reproduce the old style using new techniques.
Our company is different, we believe
in designing buildings that should each tell its own story, yet still be
relatable to its neighbors. We love designing in places like Jersey City,
a location full of rich history with industrial ties and a fun atmosphere. The
most appealing buildings you see when you are in a historic district all have a
harmonious rhythm and repetition using similar materials and color palette. This
concept stems from urban design, an ideology that uses the historical
resources that are already present and expanding upon them. Creating new areas
in a space where people already live and give them new ways to engage with one
another and with the environment around them. A designer needs to understand
what gives a town its special character and how to respectfully integrate their
new design into that development.
Our
project 93 Bright is a great example of a contextual real-estate development
that is sensitive to historic surroundings and is appropriate in relationship of
masses, volumes textures, etc. The building’s heights and widths of the
windows, doors, and entries are all a compatible size to it surrounding
environment. The roof of the building has a similar profile to its neighboring
buildings, creating an attractive and consistent appearance. The diagram below
shows our use of a glass connector that links the new addition with the
existing building next to us. The glass and wood used are materials used to accentuate
the diverse urban fabric of Jersey City creating a cohesive look.
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| 93 Bright |
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| 93 Bright |
Architects should not be afraid to
use their imagination and step outside the traditional box. It would be a shame
if architects continued to create buildings that looked like every other building
in the neighborhood constructed 80 years ago. We appreciate the historic
sensibility but many older homes do not fit today’s modern needs. Architects
can be respectful to a neighborhoods historic charm but still include design
diversity.
It is possible to create an urban design that
makes cities functional, sustainable, attractive, and acceptable to the public.
I say we should not make buildings that look as if they showed up to a party
without receiving an invitation. Designs should be timeless and preserve the
beauty of historic neighborhoods yet still lets them shine in the 21st
century.
