gemini apartment building

It started with a sketch by the developer. The drawing depicted a four-story building with a large central front door and lower windows revealing the contents of the public spaces. Smaller windows appeared rhythmically on the residential stories above. On either side shiny brass “trees” branched their way up the building crossing in front of these windows.

This is the way the concept of the building started. The drawing was an emotional representation of what the owner wanted the building to express. From the discussions that this drawing provoked, concept drawings were created. As the building design was refined, it was presented to the owner’s associates and to the neighborhood association. Further refinements were made and the design went through gauntlet of discretionary planning review and construction cost analysis.

The potential use of the property was maximized with four stories of residential apartment units of various sizes and a set back at the north due to a lower density residential zone. Sliding glass doors with Juliet balcony railings are used at the north side instead of windows to create a sense of connectedness to the outdoors. The lower units have entries off the courtyard to maximize their separation and create a calming transition from the street. Larger units have a washer and dryer but the smaller units rely on a community lounge off the entry lobby that doubles as a laundry.

The final building design retains the emotional interest of the owner’s first sketch. The main entry is emphasized between the fully glazed sides of the lobby and lounge. In place of the female figure, the warm glow of the building’s name, Gemini, is scripted in neon. Ribbons of bright gold anodized aluminum weave their way up the street façade that undulates in front of the upper story windows. The building is a memorable landmark to come home to.