Located on a narrow, triangular infill site in Raleigh, Parker engages with the city’s evolving zoning landscape and responds to constraints imposed by both form and policy. The parcel is shaped by a sweeping diagonal property line, a non-conforming lot designation, and a height limitation derived from a nearby church steeple—all within a designated neighborhood conservation overlay. Designed within the framework of Raleigh’s recent missing middle legislation, the project accommodates three dwelling units on a tightly constrained footprint.
The architectural strategy divides the program into six volumes, with two forms per unit. These scalloped masses decrease in height as they follow the angled edge of the site, articulating scale and referencing the site geometry. Their curvature exaggerates perspective from the street, creating an optical illusion that amplifies the overall sense of density and heightens the project’s engagement with scale. Recesses signal both pedestrian and vehicular entries, adding depth while modulating the building edge. A consistent window rhythm works in contrast to the shifting rooflines and varied siding, offering visual stability against the asymmetry of the forms.
Each design move contributes to a larger dialogue about density and urban housing. By multiplying the formal expression of each unit, the massing suggests a higher number of residences than are actually present, aiming to provoke conversation around the potential of infill development.
