"Most young architects — particularly those in big cities — can only dream about working in a building of their own. And making that dream come true often involves finding a building no one else seems to want, in a less-than-desirable neighborhood. Which is exactly what happened to David Yocum and his partner, Brian Bell (bldgs)."- NYT. 
6 Comments
This kind of reuse, where part of the interior becomes exterior, has always been fascinating to me. They do some beautiful work, and great detailing.
But I have to say, that shot with the empty sign board in a crumbling asphalt lot? We architects find a kind of melancholy beauty in those little spatial vignettes, but I really believe, on the public side of one's building, that one owes the neighborhood more consideration for conventional aesthetics. I'm not saying the sign can't be a component of a considered design, but right now it looks abandonded, not designed, as does the bulk of the front facade of the building, and I think that's not fair to the neighborhood, no matter how rough it may be.
yeah, with the doors open it's (almost?) enough to redeem it. but they haven't even given anything to the street through interesting doors or some clever intervention at the openings, which they obviously messed with in some way, choosing to maintain the boarded up appearance. wonder why?
is it simply a fortress mentality? when the office is closed they don't want to give potentially-nefarious passersby the appearance that there is anything here worth messing with?
Lovely..Reuse is great. While they could have engaged the street a bit more i think the secret garden aspect is beautiful as well...
great stuff - if I knew about that these folks when I was frequenting the ATL I'd probably be stuck there
I've posted here before, Steven, that the fortress mentality in South Philly was for the wealthy (mob) families to buy up 3 or 4 adjacent rowhouses and make them into one huge house BEHIND the 3 or 4 street facades. So every facade *looked* like a single family home, but wasn't. That said, each individual facade was kept neat and even decorated for Christmas (and every other freakin' holiday on the calendar - red white and blue lights for President's Day, anyone?), so the neighborhood didn't see anything different from normal, and all looked occupied.
Somewhat related to my concerns about this project. but man oh man do I love those recessed bookcases, and the way things seem to slip into one another throughout. It's a beautiful project.
I love the rusted overhead beams that run in the couryard.
As for the Mexican beach pebbles in the bathroom, I think visually they succeed but I'd hate to have them in my bathroom.
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