BSLA / MERIT AWARD Design — Residential
LEBLANC JONES LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
The Van Ness Boston , Massachusetts
The Van Ness is a recently completed mixed-use development occupying an entire city block , and is comprised of a retail base with a residential tower to the west and a commercial office tower to the east , which created a unique void on the 4th and 5th floors . Working collaboratively with the design team and client , we transformed four distinct roof terraces into 24,000 square feet of multivalent environments that provide a dynamic contrast to the urban surroundings . Our goal was to create a counterpoint that provided residents and employees with a series of creatively interconnected spaces that offer the benefits of interaction with nature in a contemporary context .
A three-level , 20,000-sq . ft roof terrace connects the two towers . On the fourth floor , the lower terrace provides outdoor gathering areas for residents and workers , and the upper terrace serves as a private amenity space . A granite-clad , serpentine woodland planter mediates the 20-foot elevation difference between the two terraces . The design incorporates linear walks and seat walls that create a rhythm and emphasize the sight lines through these spaces to the neighborhood beyond .
Photos | Jane Messinger Photography
180 feet above street level , a rooftop terrace embraces panoramic views of Boston . Custom shade sails create a more intimate , human scale . During the day , shadows created by the overlapping pattern animate the space , while at night their sculptural quality is enhanced by lighting . With a simplicity of form , this terrace acts as an elegant and ethereal complement to the overall project .
138 BSLA