ALMA…SOUL…SPIRIT The Soul of the City. Cultural Icon. Just as the Eiffel Tower image alone can conjure up an entire cultural experience by merely representing a fragment of the City, the Pier transmutations over the years have served as the symbol and spirit of the place that is St. Petersburg.
Our project will recapture the past, embrace the present, and look to the future ALMA: The Soul of St. Petersburg.
Our core strategy is creating a series of walkable urban experiences that connect a seamless solution, that responds to the different site conditions and environments.
Gateway / Gateway Park – The large expanse of lawn introduces the district and allows for large scale events, concerts, art fairs, markets, festivals. Garden Areas – Intimate scale to contrast to the Gateway area, these represent the living scale of the City, with cafés, art installations, and shade.
Pedestrian Pier/Promenade – It hovers linearly over the Fishing Pier with direct access to the pier head via walking/jogging or pier shuttle. Shade and green benches mark the center point, observation of fishing.
Fishing Pier/Promenade – The Pier is split vertically in function. The Fishing Pier is lower for specific use of fishing, i.e., casual, a bit messy, close to the water.
Waterside Tower – The Tower is designed for both observation and exhibition/special events. It is half air conditioned / half open air with a full glass observation room on the top floor. There is a small auditorium with the ability to house a pop-up café and events.
Dance Hall – Evoking the million dollar pier, the lower horizontal structure houses a large meeting space with a bandshell, an adjacent casual restaurant, bait shop, and minor retail. Source by Alfonso Architects.
Location: City of St. Petersburg, USA
Architect: Alfonso Architects
Year: 2015
Status: St. Petersburg Pier competition shortlist
Images: Courtesy of NewStPetePier