SITE
Located at the end of E. 2nd Ave where Alphabet City's grid merges with the Lower East Side, the Site has a strong visual presence along E. Houston Street
The Site is encumbered by an easement for emergency egress from a rear property that is to remain unobstructed in perpetuity
Maximum as-of-right envelope build-out as determined by the zoning ordinances
The original Program called for Administrative Offices and Support (yellow), Transitional Housing (blue), and Supportive Housing (orange)
Given the physical and visual proximity to E. Houston Street ...
... the Project takes a cue from the skewed geometry of the crosstown thoroughfare ...
... aligning the ground floor with E. Houston Street
The resultant setback allows for a zoning mandated 'green space' between the sidewalk and building
The floors above are incrementally set back to maximize the hours of direct sunlight to the new front garden
The wedge-shaped garden is 'lifted' to allow for the penetration of natural light to the administrative offices below grade through a translucent clerestory
The Project's SW-corner incrementally steps back to visually minimize the 15' setback as stipulated by the zoning ordinances
The resulting reduction in massing to the front facade ...
... is reallocated to the top of the Building ...
... where unencumbered views South are at a premium
What remains of a setback at Floor 9 ...
... is reconfigured into a usable, partially sheltered floor area for gatherings and events
Barrier Free Living
Supportive Housing | New York City, NY
The new 69,000 sf Assisted Living Facility is located at the intersection of two major city street grids at the corner of E. 2nd Street and E. Houston Street at the edge of the East Village and Lower East Side. The twelve-story facade is inflected to align with the E. Houston Street, with each successive floor stepping back ever so slightly to afford residents at each level a different view and relationship to the city grid. The highly reflective mica content in the masonry façade causes each floor to appear to change hue from the subtle variations in the glancing light.
The new state of the art transitional and supportive housing complex, complemented with administration offices, support spaces, garden, and a 9th floor roof patio replaces their existing four story turn of the century wooded former school-house facility.
Seeking to change the perception and mindset of what an assisted living facility ought to look and feel like, the design reaches beyond the typical typology associated with ‘shelters’ by redefining the aesthetics.
Beyond bolstering the pride and satisfaction of its residents – BFL’s new home will revolutionize the public’s perception at large in terms of how important and vital institutions such as these are in keeping New York City alive, vibrant, and above all responsible for all of its citizens.