The Harry Parker Community Rowing Center has revitalized a neglected stretch of the Charles River in Boston, Massachusetts. The innovative and sustainable design of the boathouse earned the Harleston Parker Medal in its first year of eligibility.
The project comprises two buildings. The smaller structure serves as a pavilion with glass tiles for storing boats and equipment. The exterior of the main building is clad with Naturclad-W maintenance-free timber panels in a Pale tone, custom-cut and machined to fit the operable shutter system and folding vents that efficiently reduce energy consumption.
The facade is both functional and visually harmonious with its surroundings. The natural timber evokes the traditional covered bridges and tobacco barns of New England, while the building’s surfaces change in response to the movements of the sun and the users around the boathouse. These movements mirror those of a rower navigating the adjacent Charles River.
