The client had approached Urb-in to come up with a design strategy to adapt a disused building element, in this case, a row of granite planter boxes, into a security feature to prevent occupation and opportunistic use. The original design brief call for a simple security fence, Urb-in’s approach was to look at the building within the context of a rapidly changing neighborhood and come up with a holistic strategy to meet the program requirements and engage in a dialogue with the streetscape.
This strategy elegantly addresses several of the performance requirements as articulated by the client (PG&E). The proposed metal screen wall, placed within the existing planter boxes, creates the illusion and dynamism of movement as each metal post is twisted slightly.