MIXED-USE HOUSING ON PARCEL 2

Once overpaved by a section of the I-95 highway, Parcel 2 in Providence, RI, exisits in the middle of systems working around it. Parcel 2 is part of the Providence’s Redevelopment District, a string of similar parcels in need of becoming a part of the community. The parcel is within of the College Hill Historic District, which is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city. Additionally, an endangered historic property is located on the parcel itself, the Captain Joseph Tillinghast House (1770). The site itself is found at this crossroads of old and new- the struggles of historic preservation while additionally supporting the possibilities that come along with new development. This multi-family housing unit explores the juncture of those two concepts, combining aspects of both nostalgic and modernized construction, and what experiences can be created through that priority.

This project asked us to reimagine the basic unit cluster in residential buildings and develop one that was both purposeful to our design concept, as well as practical to it’s residents. As I explored different visualizations of juncture within these clusters, ideas of public vs private spaces for residents began to come to the forefront of my design. This resulted in a public balcony system accessible to unit residents.