Philly YIMBY’s recent site visit has noted that construction is well underway at a 34-unit townhouse complex planned at 949 North Marshall Street in Northern Liberties, North Philadelphia. Designed by Gnome Architects, the development will consist of homes each rising four stories tall. Each property will feature roof decks and rear balconies, and two-car garage, with a total of 68 parking spaces.
![949 North Marshall Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. September 2022](https://phillyyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/949_North_Marshall_Street_2022-9-19-1.jpg)
949 North Marshall Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. September 2022
![949 North Marshall Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. September 2022](https://phillyyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/949_North_Marshall_Street_2022-9-19-8.jpg)
949 North Marshall Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. September 2022
![949 North Marshall Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. September 2022](https://phillyyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/949_North_Marshall_Street_2022-9-19-7.jpg)
949 North Marshall Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. September 2022
![949 North Marshall Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. September 2022](https://phillyyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/949_North_Marshall_Street_2022-9-19-6.jpg)
949 North Marshall Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. September 2022
![949 North Marshall Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. September 2022](https://phillyyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/949_North_Marshall_Street_2022-9-19-5.jpg)
949 North Marshall Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. September 2022
![949 North Marshall Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. September 2022](https://phillyyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/949_North_Marshall_Street_2022-9-19-4.jpg)
949 North Marshall Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. September 2022
![949 North Marshall Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. September 2022](https://phillyyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/949_North_Marshall_Street_2022-9-19-3.jpg)
949 North Marshall Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. September 2022
![949 North Marshall Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. September 2022](https://phillyyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/949_North_Marshall_Street_2022-9-19-2.jpg)
949 North Marshall Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. September 2022
The development will feature a design that is rooted in the classic Philadelphia vernacular that is stripped down and updated with modern elements just enough to make it unmistakably contemporary. As a type, the adjacent terraced rowhouses are themselves representative of a quintessential Philly architectural typology. The complex pays further homage to the city’s prewar building stock with facades of red brick, a stone base, raised porches, tall windows, and understated yet easily noticeable cornices. Subtle indentations and patterns at the brick facades add depth and texture.
Seamlessly integrated into the design are distinctly modern elements. The windows rise higher and are more varied in shape than their traditional counterparts. Raised porches meet the street sideways in a salient contemporary gesture. The cornices are stripped of their classic ornament down to plain, dark bray bars. Rounded corners add a soft touch to the development’s otherwise rectilinear geometries. Recesses at the lower levels and at the top floor are clad in dark gray paneling. Upper level terraces follow in step with the ever-increasing popularity of roof decks.
![Rendering of 949 North Marshall Street. Credit: Gnome Architects.](https://phillyyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/F1928F70-9BE4-4B65-A534-B49B604072B6.jpeg)
Rendering of 949 North Marshall Street. Credit: Gnome Architects.
![Rendering of 949 North Marshall Street. Credit: Gnome Architects.](https://phillyyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/DB0D90CD-DA12-4B40-8F8F-773CA62E7DC2.jpeg)
Rendering of 949 North Marshall Street. Credit: Gnome Architects.
![Rendering of 949 North Marshall Street. Credit: Gnome Architects.](https://phillyyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/7DF38827-0B8E-43C6-AD8F-C16617A1659D.jpeg)
Rendering of 949 North Marshall Street. Credit: Gnome Architects.
![Rendering of 949 North Marshall Street. Credit: Gnome Architects.](https://phillyyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/5C1EE04F-0764-44A2-AC20-5B40E744659F.jpeg)
Rendering of 949 North Marshall Street. Credit: Gnome Architects.
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The gnomes must be wearing green suits…
“BLAH ARCHITECTURE”
au contraire mo frere….This is exactly the kind of infill that a city needs…it’s smart, well materialed, well designed, and while the bulk of the block is repetitive with just enough detail, the corners are made special noting that there was thought to the siting and specific locations. Surely for higher budgets, more detailing may be added, but, compared to some of the miserable infill presented, this is the way to make a city. (Clearly the people are not what needs to be emphasized in the renderings).
100% J
Beautiful