Abbey Road

Birmingham, Alabama

Abbey Road is a collection of urban homes and townhouses nestled into the hillside of Red Mountain just beneath Birmingham’s most iconic landmark, Vulcan. With prominent views of downtown Birmingham, this urban village creates a tight-knit community for urban-dwellers while contributing to the redevelopment of downtown’s southside neighborhoods. An ideal location between the grit of downtown and, just over the hill, the historically significant Mountain Brook and Homewood, two of the most prominent neighborhoods in the region, this village has urban convenience along with the privacy of single-family living. Taking architectural cues from the region, natural materials and human-scaled forms create a timeless character that respects context and history, but also infuses a clean modernism that invigorates the soul. The topography of the site presented challenges but also opportunities to allow every house a view and to blend private outdoor spaces with architectural features that promote community interaction that is so lacking in suburbia.

This development includes ten urban homes and seven townhouses all fronting either an existing road or a new road that connects to an existing alleyway. The detached single-family homes are compact in footprint but rise 2-1/2 stories over a garage at grade. Covered entries, porches, and balconies are all fronting the streets to encourage walkability that builds community. Pyramid roof forms are punctuated with dormers and chimneys that bring individuality to each home. On the vertical facades, large expanses of glass, bay windows and balconies open towards panoramic city views.