Archipelago Vision
ypically, architecture mirrors the culture of a community; whether that community is a city, village or a structure’s visitors or residents. Archipelago Village will function in the reverse; the nature of the design and its uses will define the culture of its inhabitants, users, and the city of Madison as a whole. Archipelago Village heightens cultural awareness; from how we interact with each other to how we conduct ourselves. It is a return to a more dignified, cohesive culture that embraces the urban environment and cultivates enthusiasm and appreciation for life, human interaction and our relationship with the environment.
Archipelago Village is a connection of timeless, classic buildings, such as Archipelago geographically is a series of eternal islands. And like a necklace of islands, the Gestalt-like Archipelago Village is so much more than a cluster of buildings. Each building has its own personality, contributing to the overall greater ethos. The city block of buildings creates a classical, refined culture that is everlasting, and the vibrant mix of retail, hotel, office, condominium and multi-modal transportation housed in one and a half to two million square feet of space creates excitement and energy in this eastern corridor of downtown Madison. The people working, living and playing here won’t create the culture; rather, Archipelago Village will define the culture and create the ideals of the people within through a blend of building design and functions. It creates a better city. The eclectic, romantic, French renaissance/neoclassical, Central Park style collection of buildings differing in shape and classical form – warm brick, classical spires, charming arched entryways, concentrated sculptural density and subtle progression of weight and texture – is warm and holistic; a collection of buildings in the round meant to be appreciated from all sides and every angle.
Archipelago Village creates excitement and energy in downtown Madison’s eastern corridor. The Village integrates sustainability, a multitude of uses to keep people downtown, bring people downtown and define their way of life. But destination Archipelago is beyond New Urbanism – it’s a sustainable, high density, multi use community with a pre-supposed, specifically defined culture: ethos urbanism. The primary goal of Archipelago’s design is to maximize density on this four and a half acre site. The multitude of uses would typically require a substantial portion of land and contribute to urban sprawl.
Sustainability in its many forms is the primary philosophy of the development and contributes to the culture defined by Archipelago Village. The creation of the Village will result in the redevelopment of a brownfield site, maximize density, minimize urban sprawl through its multitude of uses and provide alternate forms of transportation. The structures will be designed to incorporate a myriad of high performance building elements and energy efficiency with a goal to reach the gold level of LEED™ certification.
Parking and a multi-modal, union station-type transit center form the physical foundation of Archipelago Village. Three to four levels of underground parking will be coupled with three levels of parking above ground. A seven-story interior boulevard or courtyard will be resplendent with spectacular, winding water elements, with a footbridge perched over a Sienne-like river. Three to four levels of 400,000 square feet of retail space above the parking will include restaurant and grocery, providing a more dynamic demographic for buyers. The remaining three levels are dedicated to office and extended stay hotel space – with an option to include luxury condominiums and high end hotel on the top floor. It is estimated that Archipelago Village will employ 40,000 to 50,000 people.
The added attraction to Archipelago is that it brings energy and classical magnificence to a parcel of land currently stagnant and once a tractor manufacturing plant representative of an old industrial area vacated and targeted as prime potential for urban renewal. It will bring to this East Washington Corridor and the city more than what ever was.
Archipelago Village considers its geographic market to be regional in relation to its retail and office offerings and national in terms of hotel.