Rendering courtesy of Chris Reebals
The 11-unit development near UAB and Dreamland BBQ includes two-, three- and four- bedroom apartments.
Architect Chris Reebals, one of the creators of a distinctive new apartment complex on Southside, said he hopes the project will spark further investment on Southside and drive “a greater belief in the value” of that community.
Reebals said he also hopes 15th Street Lofts, which he says was designed to fit nicely in the historic neighborhood, will encourage other builders to do attractive, quality projects that enhance communities.
His firm, Christopher Architecture & Interiors, did the architecture and interior design for the $2 million project, expected to open in February near Phelan Park, and Reebals is part of the development team, WSR1.
The 11-unit development near UAB and Dreamland BBQ includes two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments.
The lofts have a warehouse or industrial feel with durable polished concrete floors, block and wood walls, steel windows and floor joists, according to Reebals.
This style not only appealed to the design team but should appeal to millennial tenants, according to Reebals.
“We thought it would resonate,” he said.
The building’s architecture also is meant to harmonize with Southside.
“We felt like it fit more appropriately than the typical suburban, regurgitated, multifamily designs permeating the scene,” Reebals said.
The designers incorporated such materials as brick from an old cotton mill to give their building a historical context and allow it to complement Southside’s vintage buildings, Reebals said.
“The design speaks to the beauty of these old structures,” he said.
Reebals said he hopes this attention to quality will influence other builders.
“My hope is that others will see what can be done and will buy into the notion that good design is good business,” he said.
Developers who cut corners or save money should realize that good design affects not only the user but also the community as a whole, Reebals said.
