PEABODY TERRACE
GEOFF FARRELL \ ROBBY MCNEIL \ WILLIAM TOOHEY III \ JACOB WRIGHT | TEAM 2016.12.05 | BUILDING COMMUNITY
01 INTRODUCTION/OVERVIEW/HISTORY “I’VE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN ARCHITECTURE AS AN EXTENSION NOT ONLY OF TECHNICAL PROBLEMS, BUT ALSO OF HUMAN PROBLEMS. THAT ASPECT INTERESTS ME VERY MUCH: HOW THAT REPRESENTS A WAY OF LIFE AND A VITAL GESTURE. I AM PROBABLY MORE INTERESTED IN A LESS ABSTRACT EXPRESSION OF ARCHITECTURE THAN SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES.” —JOSEP LLUIS SERT
JACOB WRIGHT
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BUILDING HISTORY + CONSTRUCTED 1965 + DESIGNER: GSD DEAN JOSEP LLUIS SERT + UNIT RENOVATIONS IN THE MID 1996 BRUNER/COTT + COMMON AREA OVERHAUL IN 2013
+ THIS PROJECT WAS STARTED IN AN ERA IN CAMBRIDGE WHERE THERE WAS AN INFLUX OF INDUSTRIES AND “TRANSIENTS.” THESE SO-CALLED “TRANSIENTS” WERE SINGLE, YOUNG ADULT WHITE COLLAR WORKERS, GRADUATE STUDENTS, ETC; PEOPLE WHO MOVED ANNUALLY, RENTING APARTMENTS RATHER THAN BUYING HOMES. THE TRANSIENTS SATURATED THE HOUSING MARKET, RAISING RENTS AND TAKING OVER LOW-INCOME AREAS WHICH ALLOWED MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE MARKET RATE HOUSES TO EXPAND. THIS PROJECT WAS THE UNIVERSITY’S RESPONSE TO THE GROWING NEED, EVEN THOUGH IN SOME WAYS IT WAS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE HOUSING MARKET OF THE CITY’S RESIDENTS.
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BUILDING PROGRAMS + DETAILS + PRIMARILY SERVES GRADUATES STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY MARRIED COUPLES + THREE STORY PERIMETER BUILDINGS, 5 AND 7 STORY WITH THREE 22 STORY TOWERS + A MIX OF STUDIO TO THREE BEDROOM APARTMENTS + TOWER ELEVATORS STOP EVERY THREE FLOORS + AMENITIES BECAUSE STUDENTS: MEETING/SEMINAR ROOMS, STUDY ROOMS, LIBRARY NEARBY + OTHER AMENITIES: PLAYGROUNDS, NURSERIES, DRUGSTORE, ROOF TERRACES, COIN-OP LAUNDRY, PARKING GARAGES
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COMMUNITY IMPACTS + PEABODY TERRACE CHILDREN’S CENTER + THE NORTH-SOUTH AXIS, BANKS STREET, AND EAST-WEST, STERLIN STREET WERE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC, BECOMING BROAD PEDESTRIAN MALLS + NEGATIVE-“UNIVERSITY MOVES TO THWART EARLY MARRIAGES”; “BELOVED BY ARCHITECTS AND DISLIKED BY EVERYONE ELSE”; “AN EMBARRASSMENT TO HARVARD, AND THE LAST RESORT OF GRADUATE STUDENTS WHO COULDN’T FIND A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE” (THE CRIMSON). + POSITIVE-“AN EFFICIENTLY WORKABLE INTERIOR ARRANGEMENT, A LIVELY SEQUENCE OF EXTERIOR SPACES, AND A FLUENT CONTINUITY FROM LOW TO HIGH, AND FROM OLD TO NEW STRUCTURES”; BSA PARKER MEDAL; AIA GOLD MEDAL (THE CRIMSON).
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02 URBAN CONTEXT GEOFF FARRELL
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CITY SCALE
EDGE
LANDMARK
PATH
DISTRICT 7
SITE SCALE
EDGE
LANDMARK
PATH
DISTRICT 8
WATERFRONT EXTRUSIONS VARIOUS SITES ALONG THE CHARLES RIVER ARE ACCENTUATED WITH A HIGH-RISE ELEMENT THAT MAKES THE AREA NOTICEABLE FROM FAR DISTANCES. THESE HIGH-RISE DEVELOPMENTS CREATE AN URBAN CONDITION THAT IS LINKED TO THE HIGH DENSITY OF BOSTON, WHILE STILL BEING SURROUNDED BY THE TRADITIONAL MEDIUM DENSITY NEIGHBORHOODS THAT OCCUPY MAJORITY OF THE CAMBRIDGE AREA.
AERIEL VIEW: URBAN SCALE 9
CONNECTING GREEN MAINTAINING GREEN SPACES THROUGHOUT THE CAMBRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS IS AN IMPORTANT FEATURE OF THE AREA. PEABODY TERRACE USES ITS SETBACKS AND A SERIES OF OPEN PLAZAS WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT TO CONTINUE THE GREEN ELEMENTS SEAMLESSLY THROUGH THE SITE.
AERIEL VIEW 10
03 SOCIAL/CULTURAL CONTEXT ROBBY MCNEIL
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OPEN GREEN SPACE
PLAZA-B
CHILDREN’S CENTER
PLAZA-A
PARKING GARAGE
OPEN GREEN SPACE PLAYGROUND
CHILDREN’S CENTER
SITE PLAN
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HUMAN DIMENSIONS
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PEABODY TERRACE CHILDREN’S CENTER + OPEN FROM 8:15AM - 5:45PM + KIDS FROM 3 MONTHS OLD - 5 YEARS OLD + ENROLLMENT: FAMILIES AND STAFF CURRENTLY AT PEABODY TERRACE THEN HARVARD AFFILIATES THEN HARVARD ALUMNI THEN NON-HARVARD AFFILIATES PROGRAMS THAT SHAPE COMMUNITY LIFE + DAY CARE HIGH DENSITY OF PEOPLE + SCATTERED PLAYGROUNDS - HIGH LEVEL OF CHILDREN ACTIVITY. STRONGLY REPRESENTS THE CULTURE + CENTRAL ARTERY - MAIN CIRCULATION THROUGH THE SITE WITH HEAVILY USED BIKE RACKS AND HUBWAY RENTALS SOCIAL / CULTURAL CONTEXT + MADE UP OF MARRIED GRADUATE HARVARD STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES + 497 UNITS HOUSING ABOUT 1500 PEOPLE
PHYSICAL CHARACTER SUPPORTING COMMUNITY USE + COURTYARDS LOCATED RIGHT OFF THE CENTRAL ARTERY + BALCONIES- GIVE OFF A SENSE OF THE INDIVIDUAL USER WITH ADJUSTABLE PANELS
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04 HOUSING/COMMUNITY PROGRAMS WILLIAM TOOHEY III
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PEABODY TERRACE HOUSING
Peabody Terrace
ON-SITE PROGRAMS / AMENITIES / FACILITIES
Corporal Burns Playground
+ GRADUATE COMMONS PROGRAM + SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY LEADERS PROGRAM
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1
16
17 18
13
Tot Lot
+ CHILDREN’S PLAYROOM
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2 1
1
5
4
3
6
7
8
19
12
20
9
+ ACCESSIBLE UNITS
21
11
+ BICYCLE STORAGE
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B AC
Child Care Center on 1st Floor
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+ LAUNDRY ROOMS
+ KITCHENS W/ STOVE, DISPOSAL, REFRIGERATOR, DISHWASHER + MICROWAVE + HEAT, HOT + COLD WATER, SEWER + ELECTRICITY INCLUDED IN RENT
MEMORIAL DRIVE & Charles River
+ COMMON ROOMS
Bike Share Station
Common Room on 1st Floor
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Parking Garage*
26 27
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23
28
Entrance
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Au
burn
St
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sa
as
JFK
A
l Dr
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Ha
rva
rd
Soldiers Field Rd
E
S
Peabody Terrace
N
31
St
BANK
32
H
Memoria
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33
C
ELMER ST
EET S STR
Lot
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ve sA
St
ett
REET
us
30 Tot
R V
E
AKRON STREET
NORTH
Harvard Business School
R
THESE ELEMENTS CREATE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY BY FOSTERING COMMUNITY VALUES. THERE IS A DESIRE TO CREATE + MAINTAIN A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT, INSIDE AND OUT. FEATURES SUCH AS BIKE STORAGE, PLAY AREAS, OPEN GREEN SPACE, PARKING GARAGES, COMMON SPACES, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, ETC. ARE JUST A NUMBER OF EXAMPLES OF SHARED RESOURCES AMONG THE COMMUNITY. THESE ELEMENTS SETUP A DIALOGUE BETWEEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR DAY-TO-DAY INTERACTIONS, AND CHILDREN ARE POTENTIALLY ONE OF THE KEY ELEMENTS OF BRINGING OLDER RESIDENTS TOGETHER.
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M
CREATING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY + SHARED RESOURCES
Harvard Square
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Child Care Center on 1st Floor
Putnam Ave
+ CHILDREN’S OUTDOOR PLAY AREA
March 2014
WALKER CT
Harvard Housing
BANKS STREET
+ BUILDING TYPOLOGY: HIGH-RISE RESIDENTIAL TOWERS
Western Ave
LEGEND #
*http://www.uos.harvard.edu/transportation
This site is an approximate diagram. Not responsible for omissions or errors.
Entry
B A C Play Room
Recycling Stairway
Trash Elevator
on floors: 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21
Study Room
Bicycle Storage
Laundry
Management Office
on 21st floor
on floor 1
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UNMET NEEDS + “PEABODY TERRACE CANNOT ACCOMMODATE AIR CONDITIONERS, PORTABLE DISHWASHERS, OR WASHING MACHINES” (HUH) + “THE HARVARD CHILDCARE CENTER AT PEABODY TERRACE IS NOT RUN BY HUH AND RESIDENCY AT PEABODY TERRACE DOES NOT GUARANTEE YOU A SPOT” (HUH) + “ELEVATORS ARE ONLY LOCATED IN THE HIGH-RISE TOWERS (BUILDINGS 2, 11, AND 24) AND ONLY STOP AT FLOORS 1, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, AND 21” (HUH) IDEAS TO ADDRESS THEM + INSTALL CENTRAL AIR THAT MEETS TODAY’S ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS. + EXPAND THE CHILDCARE PROGRAM AT PEABODY TERRACE IF THERE IS AN INCREASED DEMAND FOR MORE ACCOMMODATIONS. INCREASE STAFF AND DEDICATE MORE OPEN SPACE TO PLAY AREA PROGRAM. + SIMPLY KEEP THE ELEVATORS THE WAY THEY ARE...OR REDESIGN EVERY FLOOR THAT LACKS ELEVATOR ACCESS...
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UNITS BEDROOM
# OF UNITS
SF RANGES
RENT RANGES ($)
STUDIO
82
262-596
1,722-2,106
1 BEDROOM
223
419-631
1,950-2,424
2 BEDROOM
152
602-982
2,388-2,928
3 BEDROOM
23
918-1279
3,324-3,612
PHOTOS FROM ARCHDAILY
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TYPICAL UNIT FLOOR PLANS
TYPICAL STUDIO
TYPICAL 1 BEDROOM
PLANS FROM HUH
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TYPICAL UNIT FLOOR PLANS
TYPICAL 2 BEDROOM
TYPICAL 3 BEDROOM
PLANS FROM HUH
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OVERALL FLOOR PLANS
FLOOR 21
NON-CORRIDOR FLOORS 2, 3, 5, 7 \ TOWER FLOORS 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20
CORRIDOR FLOORS 4, 6 \ TOWER FLOORS 9, 12, 15, 18
GROUND FLOOR
PLANS FROM HUH
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DIAGRAMMATIC AXONOMETRIC + SECTION
ACCESSIBILITY + NOT ALL FLOORS ACCESSIBLE BY ELEVATOR + SEE EMPTY SHAFTS LACKING CORRIDORS IN OVERALL FLOOR PLANS
DRAWINGS FROM ARCHDAILY
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05 CONCLUSION
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DRAWING CONCLUSIONS + THE CURRENT STATE OF THE PROJECT, FROM AN OUTSIDER, APPEARS TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND IN VERY LITTLE NEED OF REPAIR. ONE CANNOT IGNORE THE SIGNS OF HUMAN ACTIVITY AND COMMUNITY IN A NEIGHBORHOOD SUCH AS PEABODY TERRACE. THE CLOTHES THAT HANG FROM TERRACES, BIKES THAT ARE VISIBLE FROM EVERY ANGLE, AND THE SOUND OF GIGGLING FROM CHILDREN CREATE A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY. THESE ELEMENTS CREATE A PLEASANT ATMOSPHERE FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS OF ALL AGES, AND THE ARCHITECTURE ALMOST BECOMES SECONDARY TO THESE HUMAN CONDITIONS. SERT’S PERSONAL BELIEFS WERE AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT FOR THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROJECT BECAUSE OF THE CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF SOLVING HUMAN PROBLEMS. + PEABODY TERRACE IS WELL INTEGRATED INTO THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT THAT SURROUNDS IT AND OPERATES EFFECTIVELY WITHIN ITS OWN COMMUNITY. KEY ELEMENTS ARE THE INCLUSION OF GREEN SPACES FOR THE RESIDENTS, AND THE ADDITION TO THE WATERFRONT TOWER CONDITION THAT EXISTS ALONG THE CHARLES RIVER. BY PAYING ATTENTION TO THESE ELEMENTS, THE DEVELOPMENT IS A MUCH MORE SUCCESSFUL PIECE OF THE URBAN FABRIC, EVEN THOUGH THE STYLE AND A FEW ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS ARE QUITE DIFFERENT THAN ANYTHING AROUND IT. UNDERSTANDING AND INTEGRATING THE FUNCTION AND ORGANIZATION OF AN EXISTING COMMUNITY IS INSTRUMENTAL IN CREATING A SUCCESSFUL NEW DEVELOPMENT. + A FUTURE PEABODY TERRACE COULD HAVE MORE GREEN SPACE, PROGRAMS, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG FAMILIES STUDYING TO MAKE A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES. THE POPULAR AND SUCCESSFUL DAYCARE PROGRAM COULD EXPAND TO ALLOW MORE RESIDENT FAMILIES TO TAKE PART IN THE PROGRAM WITHOUT HAVING TO LOOK ELSEWHERE FOR CHILDCARE SERVICES. WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE CULTURE OF THE PROJECT WILL DIE, AS LONG AS THERE ARE PEOPLE TO MAINTAIN THE COMMUNITY VALUES SET IN PLACE BY KEY COMMUNITY MEMBERS/LEADERS.
FUTURE INITIATIVES + SEASONAL EVENTS INVOLVING CHILDREN (EASTER EGG HUNTS) (PUMPKIN CARVING) (SNOWMAN BUILDING) + FARMER’S MARKETS + ADDITIONS TO THE CURRENT COMMUNITY GARDEN + CREATING NEW PROGRAMS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A NEIGHBORLY DIALOGUE AMONG GRADUATE STUDENTS
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INFORMAL BIBLIOGRAPHY HTTPS://ARCHCRITIK.WORDPRESS.COM/CATEGORY/ART/ HTTP://WWW.ARCHDAILY.COM/486015/AD-CLASSICS-PEABODY-TERRACE-SERT-JACKSON-AND-GOURLEY HTTP://WWW.BRUNERCOTT.COM/PROJECTS/PEABODY-TERRACE/ HTTP://WWW.HUHOUSING.HARVARD.EDU/RESIDENTS/PEABODY-TERRACE/ABOUT-PEABODY-TERRACE HTTP://WWW.THECRIMSON.COM/ARTICLE/1967/6/15/CAMBRIDGE-IN-FLUX-PBIBUT-CAMBRIDGE-IS/?PAGE=SINGLE
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