Car Park Facade & Micro Cafe Studies

Philadelphia, PA

with Sargenti Architects

A large Philadelphia property developer tasked us with re-envisioning the exterior of an existing car park garage just off Independence Mall. The first of several options involved mounting internally-lit, bronzed-colored metal pipes, perforated in morse code spelling out sections of the Declaration of Independence, thus creating a unique pattern of visual interest.

The second option juxtaposed the static horizontal lines of the existing structure against random diagonal shards of a framed metal scrim in order to create a sense of movement and dynamism.

Lastly, we took a ground-level sliver of the existing parking structure and adjacent alley-way, to create a proposal for a coffee bar with outdoor seating that would engage with and stitch together surrounding gardens and cultural entities.