harrison urby
completed
march 2022
responsibilities
architecture, interior design & landscape
programme
1080 apartments, 70.500 sqm
location
harrison, us
completed
march 2022
responsibilities
architecture, interior design & landscape
programme
1080 apartments, 70.500 sqm
location
harrison, us
With the project, Concrete created a neighborhood within a neighborhood. Three large-scale building blocks are connected to each other through green courtyards. The courts form the social heart of the neighborhood, filled with multiple green spaces, play and seating areas, and lush walkways that connect all parts and amenities of the buildings.
the cafe: welcome home
At Harrison Urby, the traditional lobby is replaced by a café, positioned at the main entrance and designed as the social heart of the building. Set within a freestanding, house-shaped volume, the café evokes the familiarity of a home while introducing a contemporary, open character through its fully glazed façades.
Developed in collaboration with Coperaco Coffee, the space connects residents and the neighborhood through a shared daily ritual. From the street-facing espresso bar to the double-height café and garden room beyond, the interior unfolds as a sequence of distinct yet connected spaces, each with its own atmosphere.
More than just a place to grab coffee, the café acts as a living room for the community, a place to meet, work, unwind, and gather, anchoring the building in both everyday life and its local context.
charley viennese bistro
To create life and serve the community, a bistro is located at the pavilion of Urby Harrison. Architecturally the bistro pops out with its green tiled volume next to the entrance. Serving lunch and dinner, Charley’s interior is designed by Sarita Posada and reflects the Austrian touch. One corner of the pavilion is cut open to create a terrace area, to let the guests of the bistro enjoy the outdoors and watch neighbors pass by.
the library and garden room
Entering through Urby’s main entrance, the library draws attention to the right. Stepping into the library, residents get an instant feeling of ‘home’. The cozy interior is introverted and orientated towards the central fireplace. The fireplace, at the heart of the room, is surrounded by one big sofa that is placed along with the windows. Wooden shelves are filled with books, plants, and artwork. The overall use of wood within the space creates a warm setting to chill, read a book and even work while listening to the sound of the flames on a winter’s day.
A light and airy room to work, chill or simply hang out. The space is filled with plants that hang from the ceiling to create a little green oasis. The room opens itself to the courtyard via its windows, that run over the full width of the space. The perfect spot to people-gaze, and be more connected to the outdoors.
the breezeway connects pavilion and building through a vibrant sequence of light, material, and movement
Walking through the breezeway (the connection from the pavilion to the main building), where the sun creates a shadow play on the floor, residents flow through the service area towards the elevators. The space is colorful and bright due to the warm wood walls, green and white tiled floors, metal mailboxes in different shades of green, and the playful orange ‘forest light’ covering the ceiling. Across from the mailbox area, residents can check their mail and open packages at a small table, or fill their drinking bottle with the water fountain, that encourages them not to buy single-use plastic bottles.
the basketball court and gym
The indoor basketball court in Urby Harrison is an additional function that is unique to the Urby family. The space is designed as a basketball court but can also be used for public events. The brown leather padding and wood slats on the walls give the space a retro feeling. Windows at the corners of the court inhale sunlight, giving a sneak peek of the pavilion and the courtyard from the inside, and a sneak peek of the basketball court from the outside.
Alongside this, Urby offers two distinct gym environments. The original Gym Pavilion is a unique architectural piece that also includes a dedicated yoga space, creating a calmer setting focused on wellbeing and movement. In contrast, the main workout area is equipped with the latest cardio machines, weights, and fitness equipment. Hard wooden basketball floors, colored mirrors, benches, and playful wooden rings suspended in the voids give the gym a vibrant character that is typical for Urby.
the apartments
All Urby apartments feel larger than they are as a result of smart use of the available space. Despite being compact, the units are built with an optimal flow and spatial balance in mind. Sliding doors between connecting spaces let residents fully open up the apartment and experience its full size and sense of space. All apartments boast windows across the full width of the units. Combined with a straightforward design and use of light colors, the large windows bring daylight and a sense of spaciousness deep into the apartments, while at the same time offering panoramic views.
facts & figures
total area 70.500 sqm
apartments 1080
parking 522 spots, 14.900 sqm
communal garden & courts 5.050 sqm
retail area 350 sqm
communal & public spaces (entrance) café, living room and terrace, pavilion, garden room, mail room, library, basketball court, communal kitchen, gym, yoga room, sound studio
concrete
responsibilities architecture, interior design & landscape
team erikjan vermeulen, rob wagemans, cindy wouters, jolijn vonk, iwan hameleers, jakob kunst, matthijs hombergen, sofie ruytenberg, ana bissau pereira, michael cerrone, matteo bettoni, bobby de graaf, isabelle bronzwaer, tobias koch, zuzanna kurzawa, mieke billekens
partners & collaborators
client urby, us
executive architect minno & wasko, us
landscape design courtyard phase 1: concrete, phase 2: bureau bas smets, be
executive landscape architect mellilo and bauer, us
interior design bistro charley sarita posada, us
photography ewout huiberts & robert tsai
awards
harrison urby
architecture masterprize winner best interior design (residential)
architecture masterprize winner best landscape architecture (residential)
american hort international plantscape award winner best installation
archello awards longlisted housing project of the year
harrison urby cafe
inside awards winner best bar & restaurant
surface travel awards finalist limited service restaurant
hd awards finalist cafe culture
