This project for 155 units of affordable housing includes a public amenity on the ground floor as an enclosed Wintergarden space, to become the new center of the Southbridge Towers complex. This heated glassed-in space will be planted with trees to provide a biophilic space that provides a sense of wellbeing to the residents and the public by a connection to nature. The multi-use space takes the place of the current park on the site that is below grade and inaccessible to the disabled. It will add to the open spaces of neighboring Southbridge Towers, that although planted are mostly hard pavement.
The three-story glass base of our development allows natural light through to the adjacent St Margaret’s community center which potentially could also share use of the Wintergarden. This glass prism allows for multiple uses to enhance the sense of community, to create an intergenerational space for seniors and grandchildren to gather, supervised areas for children to play, musical performances, and other activities tailored to the local community.
There are two entries to the Wintergarden and the tower, one on the corner which is rounded to soften the architectural effect of in the strictly rectilinear neighboring spaces of Southbridge Towers. The other is adjacent to the 1930’s Art Deco electrical substation. This entrance takes its cue from the brick detailing of the substation to relate to the context of the block. The tower above is predominantly brick, to relate to the substation and the material of Southbridge Towers.