Peter Borgemeister

Almost twenty years before Peter Borgemeister fully launched his architectural career in 1994, he was involved with SWAP. His motivation in those early days was personal- he wanted to find a home he could afford to buy, renovate, and live in. He purchased an abandoned large home on Pine Street and worked to renovate it over the next 20 years. Not only did he live in the South Side of Providence, he became an active and valuable addition to SWAP’s team as a volunteer, board member and officer.

Later, inspired by his work at SWAP and drawing on lessons learned from those early, Peter became an architect and worked on mainly converting historic houses into affordable apartments mostly in Boston and Fall River. “The most rewarding aspect was being able to save houses that otherwise might have been torn down and provide safe, comfortable and attractive housing for people who might otherwise have been on the street. I took pride in the details, like using brass door hardware for its warmth and homelike qualities instead of the usual institutional stainless steel. I never designed an apartment that I would have not wanted to live in myself. “

Along with others in the community Peter worked on the redevelopment of the Trinity Gateway area, with special consideration to preserve the community’s historic roots and guard against gentrification. A task that he says was one of the most consequential things he has ever done.”

Borgemeister notes that finding adequate funding has been, and continues to be, the most pressing issue in addressing the housing crisis.

“The work that SWAP has done in its own neighborhood by building subsidized housing is commendable and should be a model for others to follow,” Peter says. “The next 50 years will be a challenge as new building materials, preferably concrete-based, take the place of wood which is overly vulnerable to fire and storm damage.  It’s clear that weather conditions will be harsher before carbon-recapture programs can have a significant effect in reducing global warming. Houses will need to consume much less energy and be much more rugged.”