The client is an artist/electrical engineer who designs, programs and builds kinetic sculptures that are pattern-based in concept and built this project themself. The 4,300 square foot, 100x30-foot long rectangular form relates to the surrounding historic late-19th and early-20th century St. Louis architectural context. The material choice of oxidizing steel is a bold, contemporary counterpoint to similar adjacent brick tones. The short elevation respects and aligns with the front faces of the neighboring row housing. The longer elevation, similar to other buildings along this stretch, holds the edge of the site boundary next to the sidewalk. The more private side-lot of the project is utilitarian in experience and scope, utilizing the double-wide lot for outdoor work and leisure. The interior amplifies the exposed large-scale steel structure with a jet-black, gallery-white and galvanized-silver color palette, providing generous double-height work spaces for the client to build and test out their kinetic designs on polished concrete floors. The sculptures are displayed in a copiously daylit-washed front gallery space, set on wood floors economically salvaged from unused 18-wheeler tractor-trailer beds. The more private, second floor living spaces contrast the rest of the project with a more domestic concept that is compressed in scale with a colorful material palette. 

The systems of this project are utilitarian, efficient and straightforward. The structure is a concrete foundation with a series of four, 25 feet x 30 feet pre-fabricated steel structural bays clad in a rainscreen system comprised of 18-inch wide interlocking oxidizing steel panels over 3 inches of rigid insulation and metal framing. The mechanical system is a combination of forced air and split units and is extremely efficient due to extra rigid insulation on the walls and a composite roof system of 6-inch thick Structurally Insulated Panels with white standing seams over spandrel beams that span between the structural bays.