Harbor Point

Project Awarded

The Orchids & Onions jury determined that this project’s missed opportunities greatly outweighed its merits. From the reflective windows on the ground floor disallowing pedestrian engagement to the narrow units that don’t allow for natural cross ventilation, they found Harbor Point to be a hodgepodge of contours, questionable color and material combinations, funny little corners, strangely shaped balconies, and awkward setbacks and overhangs. It was clear that although the intention was there and significant resources were spent, at some point during the design process, the message was lost in translation. An attempt at lengthening the sidewalk experience by bringing people up and into a second story commercial corridor was simply unsuccessful.  “Commercial spaces cannot thrive if the pedestrians or the vehicles cruising by can't engage with what is going on inside them,” a juror commented. On that particular floor the commercial storefront glazing goes from highly reflective mirror to jet black, creating a sense that you are being watched, and making another one “… want to run.” The jury also felt that with commercial space vacancies at an all-time high, we need to be creative, sensitive and forward thinking when creating a similar product. It behooves no one to build things that sit empty because they fundamentally do not function well.”