Cut-out Façade Defines New Philadelphia Rental Housing with Art-infused Community Spaces

Concrete Amsterdam has completed Fishtown Urby, a new residential project in Philadelphia that reflects the ongoing expansion of the Urby brand across the United States. Located at 1700 North Front Street, the development reinterprets local industrial architecture through a five-story brick structure animated by strategic cut-outs, varied façade treatments, and programmed courtyards that open the building to its surrounding neighborhood.

Hero - Facade artwork by Dutch tattoo artist Henk Schiffmacher
Photo credit: Robert Tsai

Artwork Facade
Photo credit: Robert Tsai

Artwork Facade
Photo credit: Robert Tsai

Designed to reference Fishtown’s combination of historic warehouses and brick row houses, the building appears monolithic from afar, yet reveals intricate detailing at close look. Large openings cut into the façade expose contrasting materials, soften the overall mass, and bring light into communal spaces. Generous dark-gray window bands wrap the structure, arranged to maximize daylight while protecting residents from street noise and elevated train traffic. Their rhythmic repetition recalls the proportions of early industrial buildings. Window transoms shift in height across the façade; lower ones safeguard bedroom privacy, while higher positions frame extended views from living rooms.

Apartment
Photo credit: Robert Tsai

Roof Terrace
Photo credit: Robert Tsai

Lobby cafe Percy
Photo credit: Robert Tsai

Inside, the apartments follow Urby’s established design model, defined by compact yet efficient layouts that create a greater sense of space than their footprints suggest. Balanced proportions, open connections, and detailed finishes aim to enhance liveability. “Every architectural detail is designed to improve daily life,” says Erikjan Vermeulen of Concrete Amsterdam, citing the brick envelope and precisely positioned windows.

Courtyard
Photo credit: Robert Tsai

Courtyard
Photo credit: Robert Tsai

Fishtown
Photo credit: Robert Tsai

Two landscaped courtyards, both designed by Belgian landscape architect Bas Smets, form key components of the ground-level experience. Along North Front Street, a deep green stucco-lined courtyard forms the main entrance, offering lush vegetation and visual openness to the sky. Its adjoining café terrace, designed by Shawn Hausman Design, introduces a public-facing destination. On Hope Street, a smaller courtyard serves residents more directly, incorporating shared amenities such as BBQ stations and a dog park. Blue stucco surfaces echo the elevated rail structure nearby.

Urby entrance
Photo credit: Robert Tsai

Urby entrance - Courtyard
Photo credit: Robert Tsai

Urby entrance
Photo credit: Robert Tsai

Retail units occupy building corners, contributing to active pedestrian edges. A fifth-floor communal terrace designed by Eliane Le Roux offers sweeping city views, complemented by a speakeasy interior by Yuria Kailich, creating an unexpected hideaway within the building.

Work-from-home spaces
Photo credit: Robert Tsai

24/7 Gym
Photo credit: Robert Tsai

Speakeasy
Photo credit: Robert Tsai

Along Cecil B. Moore Avenue, portions of the upper façade are carved back to form a large vertical surface dedicated to street art, becoming a visible marker within the neighborhood. For this feature, Concrete collaborated with Street Art Today and Dutch tattoo artist Henk Schiffmacher, resulting in a custom mural that introduces tones of Dutch blue while referencing local creative culture. The piece reinforces Urby’s ongoing commitment to integrating artistic identity into its developments.

Lobby cafe Percy
Photo credit: Robert Tsai

Lobby cafe Percy
Photo credit: Robert Tsai

Apartment
Photo credit: Robert Tsai

With Fishtown Urby, Concrete and Urby aim to deliver a residential environment that not only meets contemporary needs but actively contributes to the texture and cultural expression of Philadelphia’s most vibrant district.

Concrete Amsterdam

Concrete is a multidisciplinary interior and architecture studio based in a canal house in the middle of the red-light district in Amsterdam. Since 1997, Concrete has been developing concepts that transcend traditional boundaries. Whether it is in architecture, interior design, urban design, branding, or conceptual programming, Concrete’s talents converge to create unique and impactful solutions. Fundamentally, Concrete places people above buildings, recognizing that the essence of design lies in its human connection. Concrete firmly believes that form should follow life, shaping environments that seamlessly integrate with the ways people live and interact. This human-centered approach also forms the foundation of the collaboration with Urby.