Northampton, MA

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This residential development in Northampton includes a mixture of affordable and market-rate housing, with retail space on the first level, transforming the rundown building and site dominated by asphalt parking to an amenity for the whole community. The proposal provides a courtyard and lawn, open space for resident activities and events, and a continuation of the vibrant street life along Pleasant Street.

 

The landscape along Pleasant Street provides a gradient from public to private space from the retail to residential entries. Along the retail facade, reclaimed granite seating walls and open plaza areas create gathering spaces. Stands of birch trees surround the more private residential entry. The landscape connects to the existing bike path on one side and proposes a new pocket park on the other.

 

Rain garden plantings encircle the lawn and help manage storm water. 

 

Team: Crowley Cottrell, Office of Peter Frothingham, Registered Architect, LDa Architects, LLP, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.