Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences – One Dalton

CambridgeSeven / Pei Cobb Freed & Partners

Short description

One Dalton rises at the crossroads of two Boston neighborhoods: Back Bay, with its tree-lined streets of nineteenth-century townhouses, and the western end of the city’s commercial High Spine that consists of Boston’s largest-scale buildings. A new glass tower, in a city dominated by a redbrick aesthetic, is an opportunity to stand out while respectfully fitting in. The dominant design idea governing New England’s tallest residential tower was that it be graceful, sculptural and site appropriate. While the gently curved tower form rises with its High Spine neighbors, the podium reflects its lower register neighbors by rising only to the height of nearby townhouses. The tower’s base is comprised of local granite and articulated with punched windows while the tower rises as an all-glass facade. The equilateral triangle shape maximizes the available site while the three corners are gently reshaped with curves, creating more habitable, inviting space on the 61 floors and a more welcoming profile on the ground.

The tower’s residential portion, above floor 23, is shaped by incisions on the surface, offering views in two directions from every room and allowing for operable windows—a rarity in tall buildings. The lower, hotel portion, remains a taut glass envelope following the curvilinear shape of the soft triangle. At street level, the granite-sheathed podium is proportioned to be a good neighbor to the surrounding buildings, creating pedestrian-friendly access to public spaces. The envelope contrast articulates the internal elements while giving the tower its distinct character.

The tower is designed to provide residents and guests with extraordinary views. Residential units are arranged to afford owners 180-degree, uninterrupted views to Boston Harbor Islands, Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace, the Charles River, and the verdant suburbs beyond, infusing the occupant experience with a connection to the natural world.