282 Bremen Street is located on an edge condition between sprawling greenspace and the dense, urban fabric of East Boston. Bremen’s unique site conditions pose many urban design opportunities and challenges for a mixed-use building. 

We began our design process with an in-depth study of the surrounding site constraints, architectural context, and the social/cultural implications in the neighborhood. This study informed both the design and program of the building. East Boston is primarily made up of densely built three story, multifamily homes. Using this as a catalyst, the scale of the building is broken down and defined by volumes, roof lines, and changes in material that complement the rhythm of the area. Inspired by the strong artist community of the area, the building program will consist of 139 residential units, 13 of which are reserved for artists and resident amenity space. The first floor is defined by a large retail space on the corner and an artist workspace to support the artist units.  

The public face of the building has been pushed back off the property line allowing for generous sidewalks and plantings to enhance the pedestrian streetscape. Additionally, sloped walkways, steps, and ramps have been integrated to allow the first floor to be raised up well above the FEMA 100-year flood elevation, increasing the building’s resiliency to future storms and sea level rise.