AQUIFER

Aquifer is a low-rise, high-density residential project which seeks to remedy the problem of storm-water runoff for Philadelphia’s Frankford neighborhood. The complex, attached to the old Blumenthal Brothers Chocolate Factory, contains different configurations of 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and 3-bedroom units. All housing units sit atop sloped mounds of earthen composite, a byproduct of excavation that was necessitated in order to carve out an inhabitable cistern that serves as public common space for residents. These organically shaped ramps operate as walk ups to the housing units and create an interconnected, cavern-like environment which invites exploration, rest, and play.