Awards:
2024 Mention Award, Building Architecture: AIA Cincinnati Design Awards // Alcove
Description:
Alcove is at once a rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, and infill project. It preserves two Italianate buildings on Vine Street, one of which was a saloon known as the Weilert Cafe, and the other a sometimes theater which at different times housed a saloon, an opera house, and a training gym for Ezzard Charles-- now known as the Paint Building. Now, Alcove is a social endeavor that connects people, with beer, in nature.
After sitting vacant, 1410 Vine Street was condemned. Entombed by mold and fungus, many portions of the building had become unsafe. Many exterior doors and windows were broken or had been removed, although the front gates remained. Much of the floor sheathing on the second and third floors had buckled or failed due to exposure. The ground floor coffered ceiling was somewhat intact along with the existing floor. A new elevator was needed to make the space accessible for all patrons.
While remedying the above problems, Alcove reactivates the social connection with a new conservatory link that provides a bar, covered seating… and of course lots of plants! As a kind of non-building, this greenhouse is a logical modern “hyphen” between the earlier Italianate buildings. It unifies the overall plan, while maintaining the transparency of the courtyard and the integrity of the historic structures. This sensitivity earned the project state and federal historic tax credits, a testament to the diligent care taken in preservation and an affirmation that Alcove is more than the sum of its parts.
The project has also earned LEED Gold certification through thoughtful methods of construction and assembly, along with careful selection of fixtures, finishes, and equipment. White walls maximize light and provide a neutral backdrop for events, while salvaged and restored wood floors bring warmth to the palette. Botanical installations include a living wall hosting over 2,000 plants and a living chandelier boasting 36 live ferns.
Most valuable, though, was the protection of mature trees in the patio. As one of the few outdoor green spaces in Over-the-Rhine, one cannot help but feel a sense of pause in Alcove’s courtyard. The lushly shaded space provides a moment’s respite for patrons and ecological well-being for the neighborhood.
Most valuable, though, was the protection of mature trees in the patio. As one of the few outdoor green spaces in Over-the-Rhine, one cannot help but feel a sense of pause in Alcove’s courtyard. The lushly shaded space provides a moment’s respite for patrons and ecological well-being for the neighborhood.
Alcove is a community hub, open for nightly dinners and weekend brunches. Reminiscent of a biergarden, but with a refined twist, it is approachable yet dignified. Farm-to-table meals and craft cocktails challenge what’s expected of a brewery enterprise. Live music on Fridays pays homage to the house orchestra which later became the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Like the Weilert Cafe, Alcove is a place for communion across social strata. It honors its roots and looks to the future.
