MVMK
MINERVINI VANDERMARK MELIA KELLY
401 Jefferson Street, Hoboken
This new, six-unit residential building draws from the traditional materials and massing of Hoboken with a dynamic, contemporary expression. Each unit is generously sized for families with 3 to 4 bedrooms and flowing living spaces. The private rooms of each unit transition to open gathering areas for dining and entertaining, which seamlessly extend to outdoor terraces. A green roof, stormwater detention tank and flood vents are among the building’s sustainable features.
Starting with a stereotomic brick mass, which echoes the site’s previous building with the same height and footprint, a regularized grid of piers and window openings recalls the massing of the city’s industrial buildings. Furthering the contextual connections, brick reclaimed from a recently demolished nearby structure was used. This mass is then ‘carved’ with deep recesses at select bays to provide outdoor space for each unit. These recesses also act to reduce direct southern sun exposure into the unit living rooms during the summer.
Attached to this block are tectonic projections clad with patina-copper-like panels. From the historic Lackawanna Terminal building to church spires and firehouse rooftops, this material is a memorable presence in the fabric of Hoboken. In this building, however, copper is used in an unexpected configuration and with a clean-line, modern appearance. Placed at a subtle angle to the street and with a length that breaks the regimented pattern of the brick piers, these projections give both more space and uncommon views to the building’s residents, as well as unique perspectives from every angle to passersby.
On top of the three-story main mass, a two-story ‘domino’ concrete structure is lightly placed. With a twelve foot setback at this level, extensive wraparound private terraces are provided for each of the two duplex penthouse units. In order to soften the transition between these two conditions, a landscaped planter is integrated into the brick parapet, which also provides privacy for the residents. The lower floor of the penthouse is extensively glazed and the exterior concrete columns are left exposed, giving the patina-copper-clad upper floor a visually lighter appearance. In the bedrooms of the more private upper floor, thin profile windows capture framed views of industrial Hoboken and the sleek World Trade Center beyond.