架构师提供的文本描述。波蒂奇大道复兴了世纪之交的两座具有历史意义的商业建筑，位于温尼伯最著名的街角-波蒂奇和梅因以西一个街区。曾经是这个城市主要的零售目的地，大道和汉普尔大厦都经历了缓慢的衰落，成为街道和市中心的障碍。2010年，我们的客户购买了这块土地，将废弃的房产开发成75套出租公寓和22，500平方英尺的商业空间。

Text description provided by the architects. The Avenue on Portage revives two historic commercial buildings from the turn of the century located one block west of Winnipeg’s most famous corner, Portage and Main. Once major retail destinations in the city, the Avenue and Hample Buildings experienced a slow decline, becoming blights to the street and downtown. In 2010 our client purchased the site to develop the derelict properties into 75 rental apartments and 22,500 square feet of commercial space.

 © James Brittain

c.詹姆斯·布里顿

一系列形式上简单的举动戏剧性地改变了原来的外观，将公众对建筑物的看法从眼角转变为统一的城市地标。悬停在人行道上，钢阳台悬臂从现有的窗户开口，并为公寓居民提供室外通道。阳台披着镜面铝制，在周围环境下伪装起来，轮流反射天空、立面和下面的街道。

A series of formally simple moves dramatically transform the original façades, shifting public perception of the buildings from eyesores to a unified urban landmark. Hovering above the sidewalk, steel balconies cantilever from existing window openings and provide outdoor access for apartment dwellers. Clad in mirror-finish aluminum, the balconies become camouflaged against their surroundings, reflecting at turns the sky, the façade and the street below.

 © James Brittain

c.詹姆斯·布里顿

当阳台把居民推到门面之外时，主楼层把行人拉了进来，缓和了公共街道景观和私人内部之间的界限。里面的公寓大小在430到1020 S.F之间。铺满了大道上四层，还有一个新的，三层楼高的Hample。为了解决建筑物的深层足迹，并为内部单位提供窗户，两口现有的轻型水井穿过所有住宅楼层，而第三口则延伸到新的增建部分。

While the balconies push residents out beyond the façade, the main floor pulls pedestrians in, softening the boundary between the public streetscape and the private interiors. Inside, apartments sized between 430 and 1020 s.f. fill the upper four floors of the Avenue, as well as a new, three-storey addition to the Hample. In order to address the deep building footprint and provide windows for interior units, two existing light wells are carried down through all residential floors, while a third is extended into the new addition.

 © James Brittain

c.詹姆斯·布里顿

主楼层是马尼托巴Start，一个为温尼伯的新移民提供服务的非营利性组织。在街道的水平上，一堵玻璃墙折回建筑物，形成一个深的V形入口，使人行道的宽度变宽。头顶上，一个面的，镜面装饰的天篷向外倾斜13英尺，然后再回到大街的边缘，把两个门面统一起来。这些元素合在一起，将城市吸引到建筑物的表达中，使其成为街道生活中的积极参与者。

The main floor is occupied by Manitoba Start, a non-profit organization that provides services for new immigrants in Winnipeg. At street level a wall of glass folds back into the building to create a deep, V-shaped entrance that broadens the width of the sidewalk. Overhead, a faceted, mirror-finish canopy angles outward 13 feet from the face of the Hample before returning to meet the edge of the Avenue, unifying the two façades. Together, these elements draw the city into the building’s expression, making it an active participant in the life of the street.