Client: Brown University - Project Partners: AIA New York Design Award for Campus Planning
Jewelry District - Providence
Project Info
The Jewelry District is a historically significant neighborhood located in central Providence, the capital of the State of Rhode Island. As part of the campus expansion, !melk was commissioned by Brown University to develop a public space master plan and streetscape design, which included multiple project components and featured a new urban plaza.
As part of the overall master plan, !melk authored design standards and guidelines to define the character of the district. In order to uphold a historic quality, !melk established a cohesive design vocabulary that prioritizes materiality and detail. In order to promote a historic atmosphere and texture, !melk – in collaboration with a major concrete paving manufacturer – engineered a new paver specifically for this project. This paver system, while introducing an “industrial patina”, is entirely compliant with the most up-to-date standards and codes. In addition to the paving concepts, !melk designed custom tree grates for the project which were deemed the “jewelry of the Jewelry District.”
The new plaza at Ship Street, at the very location of the former shoreline, functions as the main event and gathering space for the Jewelry District. “Ship Street Square” is entirely constructed from wood; maples and red oaks are dispersed throughout the space celebrating the iconic New England landscape. As many new businesses have opened, the Jewelry District has become a highly popular destination for students, residents, and tourists alike.
The Jewelry District is a historically significant neighborhood located in central Providence, the capital of the State of Rhode Island. As part of the campus expansion, !melk was commissioned by Brown University to develop a public space master plan and streetscape design, which included multiple project components and featured a new urban plaza.
As part of the overall master plan, !melk authored design standards and guidelines to define the character of the district. In order to uphold a historic quality, !melk established a cohesive design vocabulary that prioritizes materiality and detail. In order to promote a historic atmosphere and texture, !melk – in collaboration with a major concrete paving manufacturer – engineered a new paver specifically for this project. This paver system, while introducing an “industrial patina”, is entirely compliant with the most up-to-date standards and codes. In addition to the paving concepts, !melk designed custom tree grates for the project which were deemed the “jewelry of the Jewelry District.”
The new plaza at Ship Street, at the very location of the former shoreline, functions as the main event and gathering space for the Jewelry District. “Ship Street Square” is entirely constructed from wood; maples and red oaks are dispersed throughout the space celebrating the iconic New England landscape. As many new businesses have opened, the Jewelry District has become a highly popular destination for students, residents, and tourists alike.