1212 South East Avenue
1212 South East Avenue Baltmore, Maryland Residential Architecture
BALTIMORE
1212 SOUTH EAST AVE.
VICINITY MAP
1212 SOUTH EAST AVENUE
BOST
ON ST.
S. CLINTON STREET
S. EAST AVENUE
This urban infill project consists of 52 apartments on a site one block back from the Canton waterfront in Baltimore. Because of the site’s physical size as well as the diverse frontages of each side of the property, the design solution is very different than the typical repetitive apartment complex. Each face of the building is conceived differently to take advantage of oblique views as wells as to respond to the character of its particular street. One side relates to the scale and bays of townhouses opposite while angling those bays to look down the street at an open park. Another side steps significantly to allow for water views for each unit through a view corridor between the buildings separating the site from the harbor. Another side rises up to allow views over the blocking buildings. The alley side units open into an internal green roofed courtyard that organizes the whole plan. The resulting unique residential units maximize the characteristics of each orientation.
DOWNTOWN
CANTON DOG PARK SENATOR BONVEGA FIELD / PARK
DIRECTION TO FORT MCHENRY
CONTEXT MAP
NORTHWEST HARBOUR
VIEWS DIAGRAM PARK VIEW UNITS HARBOR VIEW UNITS SKY VIEW UNITS
PLAN KEY 1. ENTRY 4. COURTYARD 2. LOBBY 5. FITNESS 3. DOG PARK 6. GREEN ROOF
DN.
DN.
5.
DN.
DN.
6. LEVEL 0
LEVEL 2-2.5
4. 6. 6.
3. 2. 1.
LEVEL 1-1.5
LEVEL 3-3.5
LEVEL 1-1.5
Plans representing the unit type per their orientation to the surrounding fabric
LEVEL 4
6.
View from roof looking into courtyard
ENTRY ELEVATION
PARK ELEVATION
The facades of the project transform in scale and articulation to address their orientation. Made with brick, metal, and stucco, the use of each material vary based on the orientation with the (east) park elevation having a more integrated brick core to relate to the brick townhouses across the street, the (south) entry elevation having a more monumental façade with a two story portico entrance and a floating cornice above the recessed terraces, while the west façade has a brick base which screens the parking and highly articulated metal panel pavilions facing the harbor beyond.
FORT VIEW 2 BEDROOM LOFT
PARK VIEW ONE BEDROOM
FIRST FLOOR 1 BEDROOM RAISED BECAUSE OF SPLIT LEVEL
HARBOR ELEVATION
TREE WELL
EXERCISE ROOM
SECTION PERSPECTIVE STUDIO APARTMENT
Just as the plan is highly varied to maximize views and orientation, the sections have equal interest and solve a number of contextual issues. The garage entry is from the west which is a minor street/alley and spirals down into the ground creating a three foot high platform above at its lowest level. This allows units to occupy the first floor animating the more primary facades while providing a sense of privacy and safety for the residents. The western units sit a full floor up maximizing their views to the harbor even for the lowest units. The sloping of the entry ramp continues in the sloping of the green roof over the garage that is the ground plane of the central courtyard. Duplexes at the upper level eliminate the need for a floor of circulation and allow units to cross over the hallways protecting them from weather and maximizing the use of space. The second floor hallway bridges over the entry area maximizing views to the courtyard from the exterior.
The courtyard contains an outdoor deck and fire pit for all residents as well as light, air, and views for the circulation and many of the units. A custom sculpture and a tree well bring vertical interest to the court. Six units occupy the north end of the courtyard enjoying southern orientation and private terraces look down the length of the courtyard.
view looking out from a sky unit (left) interior furnished park unit (below) view looking out from a park unit (bottom)
view out from a harbor unit
HARBOR
SKY
PARK
2
1
The harbor view units along the west side have a similar angled balcony but also stagger to allow more pronounced views of the water. They consist of one bedroom flats on the lower level and two bedroom duplexes above. The upper bedroom of the two level units sits over the corridor below and enjoys views of the courtyard.
1
2
The sky units are located on the south side and are high enough to see over the building in front to the water view beyond. A stair directly connects the lower level living area with a large balcony, bypassing the bedroom on the second level. The covering of the terraces creates a monumental cornice for this primary façade. End units of this type are deluxe two bedroom den units with spectacular views.
The park view units along the east side of the project are primarily 1-bedroom units with a balcony carve out that allows wrap around windows in the living room and oblique views to the park. The angling of the balcony walls open them to the park and fold in counterpoint to the angled metal walls of the unit bays.
facade of park units
entry portal
LEVEL 2
staggerd facade of harbor units (looking north)
exterior of harbor units (looking south)
The resulting design is a multifamily building with unique units that maximize the benefits of the site and create a “chameleon” building that transforms based on its orientation and context.
BALTIMORE
1212 SOUTH EAST AVE.
VICINITY MAP
1212 SOUTH EAST AVENUE
BOST
ON ST.
S. CLINTON STREET
S. EAST AVENUE
This urban infill project consists of 52 apartments on a site one block back from the Canton waterfront in Baltimore. Because of the site’s physical size as well as the diverse frontages of each side of the property, the design solution is very different than the typical repetitive apartment complex. Each face of the building is conceived differently to take advantage of oblique views as wells as to respond to the character of its particular street. One side relates to the scale and bays of townhouses opposite while angling those bays to look down the street at an open park. Another side steps significantly to allow for water views for each unit through a view corridor between the buildings separating the site from the harbor. Another side rises up to allow views over the blocking buildings. The alley side units open into an internal green roofed courtyard that organizes the whole plan. The resulting unique residential units maximize the characteristics of each orientation.
DOWNTOWN
CANTON DOG PARK SENATOR BONVEGA FIELD / PARK
DIRECTION TO FORT MCHENRY
CONTEXT MAP
NORTHWEST HARBOUR
VIEWS DIAGRAM PARK VIEW UNITS HARBOR VIEW UNITS SKY VIEW UNITS
PLAN KEY 1. ENTRY 4. COURTYARD 2. LOBBY 5. FITNESS 3. DOG PARK 6. GREEN ROOF
DN.
DN.
5.
DN.
DN.
6. LEVEL 0
LEVEL 2-2.5
4. 6. 6.
3. 2. 1.
LEVEL 1-1.5
LEVEL 3-3.5
LEVEL 1-1.5
Plans representing the unit type per their orientation to the surrounding fabric
LEVEL 4
6.
View from roof looking into courtyard
ENTRY ELEVATION
PARK ELEVATION
The facades of the project transform in scale and articulation to address their orientation. Made with brick, metal, and stucco, the use of each material vary based on the orientation with the (east) park elevation having a more integrated brick core to relate to the brick townhouses across the street, the (south) entry elevation having a more monumental façade with a two story portico entrance and a floating cornice above the recessed terraces, while the west façade has a brick base which screens the parking and highly articulated metal panel pavilions facing the harbor beyond.
FORT VIEW 2 BEDROOM LOFT
PARK VIEW ONE BEDROOM
FIRST FLOOR 1 BEDROOM RAISED BECAUSE OF SPLIT LEVEL
HARBOR ELEVATION
TREE WELL
EXERCISE ROOM
SECTION PERSPECTIVE STUDIO APARTMENT
Just as the plan is highly varied to maximize views and orientation, the sections have equal interest and solve a number of contextual issues. The garage entry is from the west which is a minor street/alley and spirals down into the ground creating a three foot high platform above at its lowest level. This allows units to occupy the first floor animating the more primary facades while providing a sense of privacy and safety for the residents. The western units sit a full floor up maximizing their views to the harbor even for the lowest units. The sloping of the entry ramp continues in the sloping of the green roof over the garage that is the ground plane of the central courtyard. Duplexes at the upper level eliminate the need for a floor of circulation and allow units to cross over the hallways protecting them from weather and maximizing the use of space. The second floor hallway bridges over the entry area maximizing views to the courtyard from the exterior.
The courtyard contains an outdoor deck and fire pit for all residents as well as light, air, and views for the circulation and many of the units. A custom sculpture and a tree well bring vertical interest to the court. Six units occupy the north end of the courtyard enjoying southern orientation and private terraces look down the length of the courtyard.
view looking out from a sky unit (left) interior furnished park unit (below) view looking out from a park unit (bottom)
view out from a harbor unit
HARBOR
SKY
PARK
2
1
The harbor view units along the west side have a similar angled balcony but also stagger to allow more pronounced views of the water. They consist of one bedroom flats on the lower level and two bedroom duplexes above. The upper bedroom of the two level units sits over the corridor below and enjoys views of the courtyard.
1
2
The sky units are located on the south side and are high enough to see over the building in front to the water view beyond. A stair directly connects the lower level living area with a large balcony, bypassing the bedroom on the second level. The covering of the terraces creates a monumental cornice for this primary façade. End units of this type are deluxe two bedroom den units with spectacular views.
The park view units along the east side of the project are primarily 1-bedroom units with a balcony carve out that allows wrap around windows in the living room and oblique views to the park. The angling of the balcony walls open them to the park and fold in counterpoint to the angled metal walls of the unit bays.
facade of park units
entry portal
LEVEL 2
staggerd facade of harbor units (looking north)
exterior of harbor units (looking south)
The resulting design is a multifamily building with unique units that maximize the benefits of the site and create a “chameleon” building that transforms based on its orientation and context.
