Thin Flats - Phase 2

Thin Flats - Phase 2

Location: Northern Liberties, Philadelphia, PA

Client: Onion Flats

Completion Date: 2009

Project Type: Multi-Family

Project Overview: Thin Flats explores the latent possibilities hidden in the vertical rhythm and regularity of the Philadelphia rowhouse. Thin faces fronting both Laurel and Pollard Streets mask and blur conventional lines of demarcation between neighboring dwellings. Hydronic floor heating, solar thermal hot water, heat recovery balanced ventilation for superior air quality, rainwater harvesting below the parking, reduced water consumption by 50%, air-tight and well-insulated thermal envelope and home automation technology for minimizing energy use, are some of the reasons why Thin Flats achieved LEED Platinum status. Duplexes splitting the four levels into two, bi-level units doubled the density of a site that might conventionally have been envisioned as a series of single-family row homes.  Density is key to affordability.  Smaller, more thoughtfully designed dwellings that cost less to rent, less to operate, and less to maintain is also the key to sustainability.