NYC SMALL IDEAS FOR BIG LOTS
COMPETITION: NEW YORK, NY 2019
COMPETITION: NEW YORK, NY 2019
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STREETS AND THEIR SIDEWALKS-THE MAIN PUBLIC PLACES OF A CITY- ARE ITS MOST VITAL ORGANS.
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COMMUNITY/ as well as being stewards for the environment, do not need to be mutually exclusive. In this project proposal, the form of the building is designed to harvest sunlight from the dense, urban fabric while reigniting the concept of community as a keystone to the neighborhood.
Traditional brownstones arguably act as a fortress- although lending some connection to the sidewalk, the bulk is a barrier wall to the interior and the interior is often compact and isolated. Although the stoop is the traditional site of gathering- the act of rising above the street level can seem exclusive and uncomfortable.
This project seeks to reactivate the community in opening the street level to free flow between the street and the building site through an inviting form. The form of the building angles to allow for the slippage of the community through the crack. The first level is open so that tenants can engage with the street level as a communal space to use as desired- gardening, play, etc. The open surveillance and transparency allows for safety while the linearity and directionality of the truss meets the people at the street and encourages the flow to the back of the site. The interior stair becomes akin to the sidewalk encouraging the tenants to move vertically through the building- not only improving health- but connecting to the lounge nodes. The stair also empties into communal spaces of the yards and roof access.
In New York City, space is at a premium and the housing crisis is making prices skyrocket. Micro-apartments can relieve the situation by creating more units per site. However, a smaller space should not mean a decrease in quality of life. The interior space is used as a communal space with the potential to have shared lounges/ larger, communal cooking spaces. This is a model that is currently being explored through co-living models and is popular with the sharing culture. This sharing culture is emphasized in this project through the openness of the first floor to punctuate the ideal that the ground space is for all.
SUSTAINBILITY/ Affordability should not be seen exclusively as a one time number but should be examined throughout the use of the space. Passive House strategies are designed into this project, creating spaces that are truly sustainable and lower the costs of utilities substantially- a hidden expense that is often not considered in the impact of affordable living where often meeting the base cost of rent is already a struggle for some. The Passive House model employs small mechanical system with highly-insulated and airtight exterior walls.
Traditional brownstones arguably act as a fortress- although lending some connection to the sidewalk, the bulk is a barrier wall to the interior and the interior is often compact and isolated. Although the stoop is the traditional site of gathering- the act of rising above the street level can seem exclusive and uncomfortable.
This project seeks to reactivate the community in opening the street level to free flow between the street and the building site through an inviting form. The form of the building angles to allow for the slippage of the community through the crack. The first level is open so that tenants can engage with the street level as a communal space to use as desired- gardening, play, etc. The open surveillance and transparency allows for safety while the linearity and directionality of the truss meets the people at the street and encourages the flow to the back of the site. The interior stair becomes akin to the sidewalk encouraging the tenants to move vertically through the building- not only improving health- but connecting to the lounge nodes. The stair also empties into communal spaces of the yards and roof access.
In New York City, space is at a premium and the housing crisis is making prices skyrocket. Micro-apartments can relieve the situation by creating more units per site. However, a smaller space should not mean a decrease in quality of life. The interior space is used as a communal space with the potential to have shared lounges/ larger, communal cooking spaces. This is a model that is currently being explored through co-living models and is popular with the sharing culture. This sharing culture is emphasized in this project through the openness of the first floor to punctuate the ideal that the ground space is for all.
SUSTAINBILITY/ Affordability should not be seen exclusively as a one time number but should be examined throughout the use of the space. Passive House strategies are designed into this project, creating spaces that are truly sustainable and lower the costs of utilities substantially- a hidden expense that is often not considered in the impact of affordable living where often meeting the base cost of rent is already a struggle for some. The Passive House model employs small mechanical system with highly-insulated and airtight exterior walls.
