More with Less
Entry for the AIANY/HPD Big Ideas, Small Lots competition
Small-sites are an overlooked opportunity for affordable development. By leveraging both large-scale construction practices and opportunities inherent in small scale construction across multiple sites, we can provide a new and innovative model for affordable housing, while designing a better experience for the inhabitants.
Affordable housing in NYC often sacrifices public space to maintain budgets. Tenants are isolated within individual dwellings with little incentive to use the modest common areas. The Co-living configuration proposed for these small sites offers more opportunities for public and semi-public spaces. With smaller residential communities, there is a possibility for more interaction and greater agency for each resident over the use of common space.
More Livable
Life in affordable housing can be a constricting experience. Tenants live in boxes - partitioned to fit a predetermined set of furniture in a single configuration. Our proposal provides residents with generous unpartitioned living quarters; a blank slate for tenants to furnish to fit to their unique needs (sleeping, living, work, children etc.). Shared resources, such as group rooms, kitchen and dining, and exterior spaces provide more options and opportunities for customization than a typical affordable housing project.
More Economical
These small sites should benefit from the techniques used on larger housing projects by using identical, pre-fabricated modules across multiple lots. The construction would also leverage the unique major infrastructure, construction equipment, or building systems. After the cores are installed, the remaining construction is relatively simple which expands the universe of potential contractors.
More Replicable
At the heart of our proposal is a pre-fabricated, efficient 'core' structure that can be employed across various sites. Habitable rooms are located on either end of the core, with an adjoined semi-public space overlooking on atrium. This arrangement is highly efficient and ideal for most narrow interior lots with existing party walls. It can be adapted to corner lots and non-party wall situations by building simple block bearing walls. It can also be adapted to shallow sites by swapping one 'core' element for a block bearing wall.
- Location Various | New York City, New York
- Sponsor AIA - New York | NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development
- Size 2,000 -5,000sf
- Status Competition | Winner
