www.marejournal.com
12C — September 30 - October 13, 2016 — Fall Preview — M id A tlantic
Real Estate Journal
A rchitecture /M ultifamily
By Michael S. McCloskey, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Bernardon Village dwelling: A new innovation for tackling small-scale urban infill
T
he demand for multi- family housing grows every day. Bernardon
of new residents each year with their attractive urban amenities, historic characters,
have a distinct historical and architectural character which they desire to maintain, and
Village Dwelling Concept. Although many urban infill innovations have come about in the last few decades, few design firms have considered combining varied multi-story types of housing within the same building. When Bernar- don was challenged to create a livable, attractive multifamily concept on an existing lot be- hind a shopping center in the center of Paoli, Pennsylvania, we explored this concept. The apartments at Paoli, at street level, give the impres- sion of classic townhomes. Each home opens up onto the street, complete with porches
and small front yards. The unique aspect of Bernardon’s concept is that the building is really a mix of one-story and two-story units, which share access to storage and parking but are otherwise completely independent. The one-story “flats” are located on the third and fourth floors of the build- ing, accessed by interior verti- cal circulation. The Village Dwelling Con- cept creates high-density resi- dential opportunities in the smallest possible footprint. By prioritizing efficiency, develop- ment becomes more palatable to small communities. The concept also allows for flexibil- ity in demographic appeal. The two-story units appeal to older millennials, perhaps those with burgeoning families, and “empty-nester” couples or single adults. The one-story “flats,” by contrast, will be ideal for younger millennials, including those who have re- cently entered the workforce. Bernardon has presented the Village Dwelling Concept to more than a half dozen prospects in the Philadelphia metro area. In each location, the concept has been received favorably by developers and municipalities alike. Most mu- nicipal officials appreciate the small-town “village” aesthetic that is reinforced by the design and the highly efficient yield offered by the unique arrange- ment of the units. The concept is specifically designed for small infill lots, which is why it works best in small urban cores such as West Chester, Media, and Paoli. Similar cit- ies also exist in other states up and down the east coast. Throughout the region, Ber- nardon’s Village Dwelling Concept has been success- ful in delivering a creative solution to small-scale infill development in our growing small towns and cities. While responding to the valid desires of municipalities to preserve their unique sense of place and scale, Bernardon is providing yet another option for satisfy- ing our region’s burgeoning de- mand for multifamily housing. Michael S. McCloskey, AIA, LEED AP BD+C is an associate principal at Bernardon, an architec- ture, interior design, and landscape architecture firmwith offices in Kennett Square and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Wilm- ington, Delaware. n
a l one cur - rent ly has over 6,400 mu l t i f am - ily units in d e s i g n o r construction in the Phila- delphia re- gion, many of which are
“To develop an efficient, palatable solution to the increased demand for housing in these hot spots, Bernardon has developed a new design innovation, now known as the Village Dwelling Concept.”
and more reasonable costs of living. As these smaller cities and towns continue to grow, so too does the demand for in- novative and cost-effective uses of existing land. This can be a touchy subject with smaller municipalities. Many
are hesitant to allow large- scale multifamily products to infiltrate their iconic central cores. To develop an efficient, palatable solution to the in- creased demand for housing in these hot spots, Bernardon has developed a new design innovation, now known as the
Michael S. McCloskey
in rapidly growing urban cores such as West Chester and Me- dia, Pennsylvania. These once largely suburban areas are now attracting huge influxes
DREAM. DESIGN. SUCCEED.
Kennett Square, PA Philadelphia, PA Wilmington, DE www.bernardon.com
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker