The Glass Lofts

What were the circumstances of receiving the commission for this project?

We were interviewed out of a selection of five local firms.

Can you describe your design process for the building?

The budget was very challenging but we used that to our advantage. The project was designed from the outside-in while pushing the spatial abilities of the architecture. Because the project used an “economy of means” that included the 5 conditions of the incomplete*, we were able to achieve a budget of $123/square foot for construction cost.

How does the completed building compare to the project as designed? Were there any dramatic changes between the two and/or lessons learned during construction?

During the construction, we found we had to reduce the amount of glass and re-detail the rain screen to remain within the budget constraints. While the building was going up, the neighborhood was undergoing a significant uplift in mentality and perception. To continue the trend, we decided the exterior of the building should reflect and attract new visitors and residents. Accordingly, the bright green lifts the spirits of the residents and passersby.

How does the building relate to contemporary architectural trends, be it sustainability, technology, etc.?

Contemporary architecture should relate to the economical and political status of the times. The Glass Lofts is fluid in its being, a place that awaits transformation through the movement of the people who live in it and use it. Its imperfections and incompleteness reflect the time in which it was built.

Are there any new/upcoming projects in your office that this building’s design and construction has influenced?

The use of economy of means and the incomplete point of view has informed all of our projects. We are always interested in creating connections between people and space, between people and people.

E-Mail Interview conducted by John Hill

*Rather than expressing a view of architecture as absolute and finite, this architecture is made purposefully incomplete. While not incomplete in a literal or physical sense, the architecture is incomplete because it accepts change. The inevitability of time’s effects and user modifications therefore become essential forces that shape this architecture. Embracing the incomplete, this architecture invites inter-activity, engendering full embodied experiences of connection in its users: connection to people and connection to place, physically, intellectually, and emotionally. Architecture’s tendency to be perfect, i.e. complete, unravels through the use of 5 conditions of the incomplete.

• Fragmentary – multiple: shapes, volumes, colors, materials, carved corners
• Unfinished – exposed: concrete block, metal deck, steel, ducts, pipes, conduits
• Imperfect – purposefully out of plumb, columns off the shelf materials
• Impermanent – material patina - rusted steel, flexibility - occupant’s modifications
• Openness – multiple: thresholds inside and out, overhead garage doors, shared spaces