Bridge House

Project Narrative

The hills that surround Cincinnati are steep and plentiful. In the early days, five incline railways carried supplies and eventually passengers to their plateaus, creating unique neighborhoods with unparalleled vistas. Many of the hillsides have long since been deemed too steep to build upon, however. It is upon these uniquely “unbuildable” sites that we will construct the first of five identical buildings.

One need not look far to see the robust industrial history of Cincinnati that influenced the Bridge House's design. Ours is a minimalistic rectangular bar housed within an industrially structural cantilevered frame. We emphasize the engineered form with contouring lights that follow each bend and angle. From the moment our feet take their first step, the ground begins to fall away beneath them until we are flying hundreds of feet in the sky. These structures are not just meant to be viewing platforms, they're meant to be seen. We often look past the hundreds of train trusses we pass daily. They blend into the landscape as if they have always been there. This reinterpretation of the classic train truss is thrust into the hillside to see and be seen for miles around. The destination of this bridge is the sky. Bridge House will be an art gallery, entertainment venue and a home. The 3k sf building’s functional components will be housed in the center flanked by long galleries. One side of these galleries will house unique and thought-provoking art, while the other will showcase views of Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and the Ohio River far below. The functional core represents a large bedroom, bathrooms, closets and kitchen. The circular stairway leads to the roof deck where one can view even more dramatic vistas as well as the natively vegetated green roof.

Bridge House is meant to evoke feelings. It draws from the surrounding history and industrial heritage, yet it will be a unique and brilliant reminder of who we are and where we have come from.

                                           

Project Details

Submission Category

Building Architecture- Small Scale (<10,000 sf)

Date of Completion

December, 2022