Main St. Apartments is a mixed-use 5-story building providing 56 affordable residential units above a commercial ground floor.

Architectural Vision

The development placed an emphasis on the incorporation of exterior green spaces and natural light in interior spaces to improve the quality of life for residents. These elements mixed with social interaction were a primary goal in combating the impacts of depression by reimagining the benefits of interior and exterior spaces and how they related to the tenants of the building.

As a response to this goal, the lobby and community room are wrapped around the ground floor garden with expanses of glazing connecting the indoor and outdoor spaces. The transparency is maximized by foreshortening and elongating the spaces, altering the tenants’ spatial awareness in favor of the courtyard view. As you walk through the interior spaces, the view of the garden is marked by layers of plantings within to add depth and frame views. The additional depth creates a balance of space with intimate areas and views that relay the peaceful feeling of an expansive landscape.