WAYZATA BLU

This urban streetscape and pocket park is a successful example of how to create a pedestrian-scale, environmentally functional landscape in small urban spaces. Overlooking downtown Wayzata, the site design for this new condominium utilizes a unique palette of materials that complements the architectural form and facades. In addition, the compressed site scale, along with the urban context, required high attention to material selection, durability, and construction detailing. A key design challenge was creative adaptation of narrow spaces between the building envelope and public sidewalks. A cohesive planting design that uses plants with strong vertical growth habit mediates the facade and public realm. The streetscape design is also a subtle strategy to collect rainwater for reuse. A calming waterwall sculpture alongside an intimately-scaled circular seating area complements the facade materials. The overall site design successfully demonstrates how even small scale urban spaces can play a large role in situating buildings to enrich the urban fabric, while also exemplifying the principles of form and function.