The Edes Building fills the gap in a key intersection in downtown Morgan Hill, helping to knit together a consistent pedestrian promenade experience and providing multiple uses within the two-story structure. The building accommodates the need to raise the building above a flood plain with a concrete plinth that integrates steps, an accessible ramp and planters while providing a unique aesthetic to fit into an eclectic urban context. The shape of the building mediates scale between neighbors and is influenced by views of the surrounding rolling hills. Mass timber was chosen for its natural finish and ability to provide larger spans than standard wood construction. The interior embraces the mass timber structure and blends the warmth of the wood with an airy, modern design. Custom shelving and display units accommodate a myriad of art, including canvas and prints, jewelry, pottery and glass pieces. Custom-made rotating walls pivot and adjust the flow of gallery visitors to accommodate various-sized art pieces and create a flexible yet unified space. Additionally, the first-floor gallery leads to a wine bar with modern furniture, a functional seating area and a combination of displayed wine and art pieces. In an effort to draw people upstairs to see the art, a dramatic staircase lights up like a lantern at night, pointing the way upstairs in an intriguing way. The building was named for the first business that once occupied the site back in the 1920s.
