█ 2807 e south street
orlando, fl : [2022]
We were tasked with reconceiving a 1950s laundromat facility for a future brewery. In its original state, the building was a rather mundane one-story building that hadn’t changed much over the years. Three sides of the existing building were constructed of concrete block and the remaining south-facing elevation featured a ribbon of floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Framed within this band of windows, the activities within were put on full display. Like a film strip, the ample glazing projected a cinematographic display of daily life onto the street.
In its operation throughout the decades, the laundrette served as a passive meeting place for people in and around the Milk District. Frequenters of the coin laundry crossed paths with other patrons and engaged each other in small talk and the latest community news. The extended length of wash and dry cycles kept people on the premises for hours at a time, thereby fortifying interpersonal contact. The modern model of a brewery and public house is similar to a laundromat in that they are both places to commune with neighbors. They are both places to pass the time and to see and be seen. That said, notions of transparency and openness were key to how we approached the design of the shell building. We wanted the building to advertise itself as a place to gather.
At the client’s request, we salvaged the foundation and preserved the original footprint of the building. The existing walls and roof were raised to increase interior head height and new energy-efficient glazing was installed. To accommodate the program of a future brewing facility and maximize the use of the site, we increased the interior square feet and added a covered patio area to the East. A spire serves to add height and prominence to the low, horizontal building. Much like the spire on a church that serves to identify the building as a beacon of the community, the spire demarcates the building as a special place. At night, the spire illuminates from within and can be seen from afar and also from the nearby freeway. Introducing street visibility was an important objective. The street that fronts the building is a one-way thoroughfare with high-speed vehicular traffic. Taking cues from the automotive architecture of the 1960s that was designed to catch the attention of passersby, the building is designed to stand out.. The expansive south-facing glazing that was re-incorporated into the design makes direct reference to the high visibility of the old laundrette and puts the activities of the brewery on display. These features and adaptations contribute to a building that is activated and engaging from the street.
photo credit | Chad Baumer Photography