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architecture G A M B L E
urban design ASSOCIATES
678 Massachusetts Avenue Suite#502 Cambridge Ma 02139
MEMO
To: Steve Magoon, Director of Community Development and Planning
Assistant Town Manager
Gideon Schreiber+Andrea Adams,Town Planners
Fr: David Gamble, AIA AICP, Principal, Gamble Associates
Date November 10, 2017
DESIGN REVIEW OF 33 MOUNT AUBURN STREET
Schedule
A preliminary consultation meeting took place on Tuesday, October 31', 2017, with the developer and
architect at the Developer's Conference. This design review is based on the 11"x 17" Drawing Set and
Project Narrative dated 10/10/17, which were received on October 14, 2017.
General comments
The project appropriately fills a hole in the fabric of Mt.Auburn Street. The site is in close proximity to
Watertown Square and, as such, a mixed-use building with ground floor commercial space and upper
floor residential is consistent with the goals of a primary commercial corridor. The scale, massing and
public realm interface between the building and the street is an appropriate response to the context.
The following elements of concern are identified below:
Material Treatment
MT AUBURN STREET ELEVATION A7. The base of the building is in Concrete Masonry Units (CMU). CMU
is an affordable and durable material for the base of a building. Considerations should be made to add
layers of sophistication to the material through subtle variation in the proportion of the block and it's
texture (split face, ground, etc.) The upper elevations are indicated to be "cementitious siding".
Cementitious siding is not a high-quality material. High quality and natural materials are encouraged
and cheap exterior finishes are discouraged in the Design Guidelines. Efforts should be made to
introduce a masonry unit to the upper floors (at least of the primary elevation of Mt. Auburn Street).
The success of the masonry skin will ultimately depend on its detailing and execution.
33 Mt.Auburn Street DESIGN REVIEW November 10, 2017
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Subtle variation in the CMU base. (Buckingham Browne and Nichols Field House, Cambridge, MA.)
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Elevations of historic buildings used higher-quality materials on the primary facades that turned the
corner, and then transitioned to a less expensive material. (Fort Point Channel, Boston).
33 Mt. Auburn Street DESIGN REVIEW November 10, 2017
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Facade Treatment
The aluminum widow guards are not usable. Although the Mount Auburn Street elevation faces north
and does not get direct natural sunlight, opportunities should be pursued that add depth to the fagade.
Adding width to the "window guards" -combined with the "fabric canopies" -will achieve such an
effect.
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Narrow balconies, but fabric canopies and integrated planters add elegance. (Image: Bostonian Hotel).
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33 Mt.Auburn Street DESIGN REVIEW November 10, 2017
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TAYLOR STREET ELEVATION A8+SECOND FLOOR PLAN A3. The orientation of the building creates a
wide ground floor terrace where it meets Taylor Street. The introduction of a modestly-scaled trellis will
address the transition in heights and signal an outdoor space that could be a resident amentity.
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33 MOUNT AUBURN ST
Public Realm Interface:
LANDSCAPE PLAN L1. The corner open space should be designed in a manner that is welcoming to the
public. Entries are better located along the paths of the crosswalks. The space should feel open and
welcoming and guard against a defensive enclosure to the street.
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33 Mt.Auburn Street DESIGN REVIEW November 10, 2017
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Signage
There is insufficient information with regards to the signage elements.
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The Mt.Auburn Street elevation will be enhanced with higher quality materials, greater depth of the
balconies, a potential outdoor trellis on the terrace and subtle variation in the CMU base that adds
sophistication to an otherwise unrefined material.
End of Memo.
33 Mt.Auburn Street DESIGN REVIEW November 10, 2017