Location: Oakland, United States.

Architect: Form4.

Binary Harmonics is a mixed-use, mixed-income, high-rise development located in Oakland, California, adjacent to the Lake Merritt BART station. The project is inspired by the futuristic shapes of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) cars and aims to create an active neighborhood hub. The development includes two buildings, each 275 feet tall with 13 floors, providing 600,000 square-foot of office space, 200,000 square-foot of housing, and 50,000 square-foot for retail. The project includes affordable housing (35%) and maker spaces for non-profit users in addition to commercial and retail space. The design of the buildings includes deep overhangs and extensive horizontal sun shading to moderate the California sun. The project aims to provide high-quality, active, and safe public and civic spaces with an activated ground floor. The development is a sustainable project that acts as a catalyst for the community, connecting several neighborhoods, including the historic Chinatown established in the 1800s.

Photo credit: Renderings by Form4 Architecture / Teapot Collective.