Designer:
Andrew T Zalewski
Project Type:
Multi-Family
Location:
Wakefield, MA
Addressing this tight suburban site, we found many positive attributes for apartment living. The location within feet of a major highway interchange is an easy start, but there are walk-up amenities on the same block. Retail, personal care, coffee shop all within a few steps of the site. The Lynnfield Market Place lies on the opposite side of the highway. Walking trails around Lake Quannapowitt and a downtown shopping district are less than 2 miles away. Other residential developments are directly across the street. There is a commuter rail station in the downtown area of Wakefield.
The 19-unit elevator building features two-bedroom units of about 1,000 sq. ft. The design is a clean modern look that carries into the interior appointments. The private parking area is well-defined with garden walls along the street and an artifact wall at the back of the property that is a last vestige of the South Reading Branch Railroad that once connected Wakefield and Peabody. The rise in the land provides an acoustical break from the highway noises.
The four-story massing is a good neighbor to the existing residential development in the neighborhood. Simple features include a tenants’ fitness center and a lobby with space to receive the now abundant package deliveries. The environmentally moderated trash room is easily accessed from a stairway lobby and serviced from the exterior of the structure. Both stairways are oriented to offer short paths to the parking areas, encouraging fitness for the residents and less use of the elevator. All units are HP adaptable, and all have outdoor balconies. Most are corner units with superb daylighting and smart use of high windows for bright rooms that are easily furnished. Energy efficient micro zoned HVAC systems are roof-top mounted for visual and acoustical control. Special care was taken to avoid all mechanical penetrations through the exterior façade, to maintain the clean detailing of the structure.
This is a modest building that fits graciously into its neighborhood and offers great possibilities for an active lifestyle.
