​alyssa portz

Sky House

Philadelphia, PA

Fall 2012 | Arch 601 - Graduate Studio: The Second Life of the Boeing 747 with Professor Harry Eggink

Philadelphia, Baltimore, and other older American cities have predominantly row house neighborhoods. These neighborhoods create streetscapes with solid boundaries. In some cases, however, a row house is missing (see picture to the left). This could happed because of irreparable damage to fire, condemnation, or development that was never completed. The typical row house width in Philadelphia is equal to the diameter of the Boeing 747. This allows for easy infill of the empty space. The fuselage is turned vertically and dropped into place. Windows are cut in between the structural ribs. The floor plates are removed and re-oriented to become the house floors. A 737 wing provides shade on a rooftop garden and solar panels mounted to it provide energy. The open end of the fuselage acts as a rain collector for water recycling throughout the home.