Fusion 1560 City Apartment Homes St. Petersburg, FL Statement of Purpose : This high-end apartment...

Fusion 1560 City Apartment HomesSt. Petersburg, FL

Statement of Purpose: This high-end apartment community consists of roughly 300 units and some retail space on the first floor. The scope of the landscape architect included design of the streetscape on three sides of the project, two interior courtyards and a rooftop deck. Central Avenue, on the north side of the property, is one of the main thoroughfares through downtown St. Petersburg. Tropicana Field, a large stadium where the Rays play baseball, is located immediately across 1 st Avenue South to the south of the site.

The goal for the project was to create a community that offers everything a young professional would need for convenience and to minimize vehicular trips. The project had to stand out above their competition to support the rental rates and attract a more sophisticated renter.

This project was designed to be a combination of design styles and materials. Located in downtown St. Petersburg, FL, which is an artistic, eclectic area with modern and historic features, the project brings together urban, industrial and contemporary elements resulting in a playful, eclectic project that has been successful in attracting young professions. The brand is communicated through the name of the project, marketing publications and the design of everything inside and outside of the building. The tag line for the project was “Expect the Unexpected”.

The interior amenities include an oversized lobby that connects to a bar and casual seating space, a WiFi café, a conference room, a billiards room and a gourmet kitchen. There is also a wine “closet” with spaces for residents to rent for keeping wine, a health club, a spa facility and a small gathering space for meeting up with friends. Much time was spent coordinating the interior and exterior designs so some of the same materials were used inside and out, views were capitalized upon and the style of design was consistent.

The exterior amenities included a swimming pool and spa in one courtyard, a sculpture garden in the other courtyard and an outdoor kitchen and sunning area on the rooftop deck. To create spaces that have a high impact, sculptures were used extensively as were a mix of materials, colors, textures and forms that were consistent with the theme. This was a project where the landscape architect had free reign to create non-traditional spaces, allowing for fun, somewhat whimsical designs to develop.


Role of the Landscape Architect: The landscape architect was responsible for design of everything outside the buildings. This included helping to program activities and features that would be most attractive to the target market. Scope of work included design, bidding and negotiations, construction documents and construction observation.

On a site this tight, a great deal of coordination had to occur between the landscape architect, architect, interior designer, as well as structural and civil engineers. There were numerous challenges on this project too that required particularly close communications.

Sculptures were used to give this project an artistic and unique character. The sculpture designs were developed as a group effort between the landscape architect, developer and sculptor with who the landscape architect had worked with on two previous projects.


Challenges – The first challenge was how to deal with an existing canal that traversed the vacant property. The canal was approximately 25’ below the proposed finish floor elevation. Significant structural elements were built to provide access to the City of St. Petersburg in case debris were to get lodged under the future building. Because of the large concrete structure below, a very large portion of the courtyard above could not have planting or any heavy elements on it. This was a challenge for the landscape architect to make the courtyard pedestrian friendly without using any plantings or heavy elements.

Another challenge was that the two courtyards were quite small to accommodate a swimming pool with 50’ dimensions for laps, hot tub and other elements needed to attract the target market. A diagonal pool was designed to add interest , allow for 50’ swim areas and create a focal feature in the hot tub , around which the courtyard is oriented.Solutions – The “Butterfly Garden” over the canal was designed with angles that parallel the retaining wall below. From that wall to the building, seating areas were designed to allow for multiple uses of grilling, eating or relaxing. Small movable planters were added with limited plantings, lights were hung to help define the space and hardscape materials were designed to visually break up the large space in an eclectic manner. Hexagonal concrete blocks were used to mimic the historic downtown sidewalks. Aluminum grating was used in a zigzag shape for interest in form, contrast, and function since it also serves as the drainage mechanism for that portion of the courtyard.

Yellow Shading on Left Side Represents Area of Canal Below

Existing Canal with Structural Elements Added


View of Central Avenue from Southeast with Tropicana Field to Left


Existing colored concrete adjacent to property (site in distance)

Project streetscape respects adjacent walks but offers a more updated design consistent with the project theme


View of “Butterfly Courtyard” at dusk 2 of 3 Butterfly Sculptures in the “Butterfly Garden” with Fog Beginning to Appear


View from Balcony over Primary Courtyard Entrance from Lobby Area

Aluminum Lighted Bench… Another Unexpected Feature

Aluminum Steps and Railing Detail at Raised Composite Decking


View of Courtyard Showing Area Over Canal (Right Side)

Contemporary Planters add Interest


Pool Courtyard with Red Planters for Continuity and Interest


View of Spa Tower with Trellis Beyond


Recycled Glass and Mirror Paver Insert (10 Total)

Trellis Structure with Same Tiles as Pool Tile. Active Paver Patterns Add to the Whimsical Character.


Mix of Industrial, Contemporary Materials

Waterfall at Spa

Internally Lit Spa Tower from Entry Trellis

Red Planters add Visual Interest


Outdoor Kitchen on Rooftop Deck


View of Downtown St. Petersburg from Rooftop Deck


View From Sunning Terrace toward Outdoor Kitchen


Custom Concrete Countertop with Pattern Made From Recycled Glass and Mother of Pearl. Fiber Optic Lighting was Incorporated Into Countertop for Nighttime Twinkling Effect.

Fusion 1560 City Apartment Homes St. Petersburg, FL Statement of Purpose : This high-end apartment...

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