Seven27 is a rental apartment building recently completed in Madison, Wisconsin by Valerio Dewalt Train Associates. The site - a former material storage yard - had an optimal location near downtown Madison, but every edge required a unique design response to mesh with a different context. It represents the densification of smaller downtowns.
Designed in a U-shaped plan with wings of varying height, the building orients south for views to Monona Bay andLake Monona. The western face steps down to three stories and is massed to fit in with the historic neighborhood of one- and two-story single-family homes on that side.
The wings embrace a landscaped courtyard, extending thecity parkland across the street to the south. The tan brick complements the cream-colored masonry of the two historic tobacco warehouses converted into lofts on the north edge. Seven27's longest wing mirrors the energy of the bike path and active railroad line on the eastern edge of the site.
Photos: Barbara Karant