THE PHILADELPHIA TOWER
The Philadelphia Viaduct was originally where railroad was first established, it was used to import resources that aided in the growth and expansion of the city. As the city developed past the point of needing the railroad to supply resources, the Viaduct felt into despair.
The Viaduct intruded into the city when it was first built. Over time it became integrated with the surrounding context. Once the Viaduct was no longer used, nature begun to reclaim its territory and vegetation dominated. This occurrence lead to the concept of having a role reversal in which nature and the built environment respect and learn from each other.
The goal for this project was to create a building that finds a balance between the built environment and a natural state that is intrusive by nature, but integrated by design.
ARCHITECTS | Sheyda Livingston Izquierdo | Ashley Valenzuela | Kyle Zais | Eric Mohker | Lucas Antunes | Dayana De Abreu
LOCATION | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
TYPOLOGY | Mixed-Use Tower
SECTIONS
EAST-WEST SECTION
NORTH-SOUTH SECTION
The site is divided by the Viaduct. One of the design challenges faced in this project was how to connect both sites from a conceptual stand point, as well as from a physical aspect. This was achieved through the use of similar spatial language within both sides of the site.
The relationship both buildings carry is that of the role reversal. The dominant tower creates its relationship to the Viaduct by respecting it. The smaller site begins to insert itself at the Viaduct level thus creating the role reversal between both buildings.
MODEL
