The Julia at St. Charles
Transforming an underutilized site into a contextually sensitive neighborhood asset.
Category
Mixed-Use Multi-Family
Location
New Orleans, LA
Size
307,000 SF
Year
2019
Located directly across St. Charles Avenue from historic Julia Row, and spanning the entire length of a city block, this former parking lot and warehouse structure was converted into a 307,000 square foot mixed-use multi-family property.
The development includes ground floor retail space fronting 3 designated pedestrian corridors, as well as parking and amenities for the 198 residential units above. The units are served by two courtyards, a fitness facility, swimming pool, and 2 resident lounges, along with additional open-air rooftop space. Balconies at the second floor take advantage of the bustling street life, while 5th floor terraces offer downtown views, scaling the building to its surroundings.
To fit in with its historic neighborhood, The Julia at St. Charles exhibits a modern interpretation of classic proportions while incorporating traditional materials – primarily masses of brick and stucco. Considerable care was given to incorporate an existing carriage house, which is utilized as a leasing office. This humble structure is the only remaining piece of a previously demolished historic residence that once occupied the site. A delicate expression of glass and steel interrupts the primary building’s mass to seemingly embrace the carriage house. This embrace creates an intimate residential entrance while marrying history, to the present. A similar technique is used along St. Charles and Carondelet streets to further soften the building’s massing into 3 distinct, yet harmonious, elevations.