Border Street Housing

Designing a mixed-use building to respectfully integrate with East Boston triple-deckers

This project, another collaboration led by Joy Squared Design in East Boston, presented us with the challenge of creating a cohesive building that also speaks to the fabric of the neighborhood – individual triple deckers, often connected at street level with commercial spaces. Here, we reimagine that in a modern language, while also maintaining efficient and thoughtful unit layouts. Our role was in all aspects of design and support through construction documents.

From Joy Squared: "The design for 277 Border Street was imagined as the Border Street corridor, once a stretch of auto body repair shops and industrial use facilities, was beginning to transition into a densely planned, multi-family residential and mixed-use neighborhood just outside of East Boston’s Central Square.

The push-and-pull of volumes serve to break apart the wider footprint of the building, suggesting three smaller-scaled townhouses, in keeping with the existing rhythm of the street. The site enjoys an abundance of afternoon sunshine and views of the harbor. The 18-unit building is comprised of a ground level retail space, residential lobby, and garage featuring car stackers and bike storage. The upper four residential floors feature an assortment of airy and contemporary studio, 1, 2, and 2+ bedroom condominium units with private balconies, a common roof deck and striking views of the Boston skyline."

Photos: Jane Messinger