park beyond. With LEED Gold certification as a baseline goal, the majority of materials comply with high sustainability standards and a rather tight budget. The warmth of the exterior carries over to the interior. The 536-sf plans take full advantage of the onsite landscaping while also allowing for private zones and an ample sense of seclusion. The living areas are methodically placed in proximity to the balconies and the private bedrooms are situated towards the rear of the units. Additional flexible space, large enough for a twin bed, allows for uses such as storage, a room for a guest or caregiver, or a place to park wheelchairs or electric scooters. bcWORKSHOP notes that a few of the residents have used this room for interior green space. To lower energy and living costs, strong sustainable practices are incorporated into the heating and cooling systems, water supply, and landscape planning. The architecture of Gurley Place in its totality is ordinary. There is nothing earth-shattering about the buildings, but it was never intended to be that. bcWORKSHOP’s involvement with Jubilee Park community members has resulted in an architecture that holds true to its sense of place. The connection to the surrounding neighborhood, both visually and socially, makes the project highly intriguing. It is a design that gives every resident comfort in knowing that, though it is something new, the space can be just as familiar as the home and neighborhood they grew up in. The way the buildings and the apartments interact with each other and the street is the way the Jubilee Park has been for over 100 years. The project is like opening a book of architectural patterns and interpreting each element verbatim, all in keeping with the desires of the community. From the need for increased connection to neighbors to the request for private outdoor space, the hopes of the residents were met in a manner that celebrates the historical framework of the community. with Gurley Place is a testament to the importance of architecture in the civic process. Through a simple willingness to listen and respond to the community, as well as manage seamless coordination between the city and the consulting firms, bcWORKSHOP created an architectural solution that is a successful marriage of style, function, and heritage. The efforts made toward connecting with an isolated community have resulted in a sense of trust. bcWORKSHOP has become a group that the community of Jubilee Park can turn to for support and advice concerning architecture and process. Although neighborhoods have often felt a sense of anxiousness concerning development, Jubilee Park today has a sense of ease and confidence in knowing that the future of the neighborhood involves and includes them. These efforts demonstrate what can happen when architecture plays a role in creating a sense of place. Whether maintaining or strengthening a community and helping it evolve for the future, it is the civic duty that reminds us all why we became architects in the first place bcWORKSHOP’s effort
Michael Friebele, Assoc. AIA, is a Project Designer with Laguarda Low in Dallas.
1/2 2013
Texas Architect 53