Eau Claire Railroad Lot | Andante
Residential
ANDANTE // “a moderately paced walking tempo”
The community of Eau Claire contains a strong art and music scene, with many music and art festivals hosted each year. With musical inspiration, the architecture of this residential project in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, encourages a rich tapestry of pedestrian use around the perimeter of the building at a tempo that stimulates interest and engagement. Fronting the Eau Claire River, the site is two blocks from the confluence with the Chippewa River with direct access to the 31-mile Chippewa River State Trail.
CAESURA // “a short pause in verse or song”
In musical notation, a caesura is marked by double oblique lines, commonly called railroad tracks, or train tracks. The consistent rhythm of the architecture is highlighted by breaks in the massing to highlight entries and points of social connection. The design encourages the continuation of mixed use commercial along N. Barstow St. and N. Farwell to reinforce the area’s urban fabric and reimagine the site’s former use as a railroad depot. The new pedestrian promenade will be activated by tightly spaced micro-retail storefronts, allowing local entrepreneurs to open shop with minimal initial investment.
CLEAR VISION
The community-wide planning process Clear Vision involved a group of several hundred residents of Eau Claire coming together to tackle everything from quality of life to transportation, which spawned the Pablo Center at the Confluence, a world class performing arts center. The architecture of this development is likewise responsive to the needs of the community and strives for clarity of design.
