The Alcove (formerly Gather RI)

CBH Architect LLC

Institution

The Alcove (formerly Gather RI)

Providence, Rhode Island

As design architect, we developed the program, shepherded the design through the Historic District Commission process and assembled the team for the renovation of this existing concrete block masonry building. We added a second story and planned for a fully electrical building powered by solar panels on the roof. The existing asphalt parking lot is to be transformed into a terrace and gardens, designed by Bernice Wahler Landscape, and the second story incorporates a rooftop garden. One enters a contemporary gallery space, and progresses through a paneled library space, ascending to an airy, light-filled second floor where each room has a different vibe: from Moroccan bath to Scandinavian birch minimalism to Louis XIV salon.

189 Broadway Providence, RI

The exterior expression evokes the feeling of a civilized urban building, like a club in Paris or New York. The small balconies with their plantings provide a welcoming feeling both inside and out. Both interior and exterior spaces are meant to feel like an oasis in the city.

The program includes a gallery space, a library, offices and large and small meeting rooms, and a self-serve cafe. Skylights will punctuate the staircase as well as a common area. The metal windows and doors allude to Parisian buildings, as does the façade expression.

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