Take a look at this wonderful pedestrian space. This is the Grove Arcade Public Market in Asheville, NC. It was built in 1929. Notice the skylights. Open to the sky yet protected from the elements.Notice it is within the building. Not over public right of way.
Maybe this is a model for the Pineapple Square "breezeway". Leave the width of the street right of way intact, and put an open skylight across the top. This would allow air circulation when desirable and would let daylight and nightlight in all the time. Just like being outdoors, but with some protection.
Of course you can't park on top of this skylight. But then, we don't have to give up air rights above the block of State Street that the developer is asking to be vacated.
This would make a great statement about why people are drawn to Florida's coasts. People love the outdoors, the climate (OK not so much the heat and humidity of deep summer), the tropical and native Florida vegetation. Why enclose everything inside walls?
The Sarasota School of Architecture celebrated the settings surrounding the buildings. Passage from inside to outside was made seamless. The outdoors was brought into the building. The Grove Arcade is reminiscent of this ideal - connecting the inside with the outside.
The Grove Arcade Building in Ashville, NC
Built in 1929.
These pictures are from a recent SHT Style Magazine story.
1 comment:
What a beautiful example of an arcade structure! Imagine that, inside a building. A gift to the public from the builder rather than a gift to the builder from the public.
Whatever happens at Pineapple Square, it needs to be something that will still be worthwhile and beautiful in 80 years like the Grove Arcade Building.
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