#FOASocialImpact
Brief Description:
• The Cliff Swallow Apartment addresses the need for new affordable housing in New York City by activating underutilized space in established high-density neighborhoods. It is a temporary micro-unit that can be attached to the sides of existing buildings without the need for new construction.
• The unit can increase the size of an existing apartment to accommodate a growing family or the care of an aging relative.
• The unit can add residential space where living space did not exist, ultimately creating a mixed-use community in previously single-use buildings.
• The unit’s design is inspired by the nest of the cliff swallow. The cliff swallow constructs dense communities of gourd-shaped nests on vertical structures throughout North America.
Full Description:
The overwhelming demand for housing in New York City has increased the cost of living to an unsustainable level, pushing low-income individuals far from the city center. Additionally, much of the city’s new residential construction focuses on the needs of the super-wealthy and the development of affordable housing has lagged behind. The Cliff Swallow Apartment addresses these issues by utilizing existing infrastructure and infusing affordable housing into established high-density areas.
The typical site for the Cliff Swallow Apartment is the exposed dividing wall between buildings of varying heights. Currently these spaces are completely unused or are occupied by painted advertisements. Neighborhoods with older construction have the highest instance of this building condition. The Flatiron, NoMad, Gramercy, and Union Square districts are prime candidates for implementation. Users access the unit through the taller building’s circulation paths. The unit temporarily leases the air rights above the shorter building, creating a mutually beneficial relationship between the new unit and the existing building below. If the unit is ever removed, the only repair to the existing taller building will be to fill in the cut for the front door.
The program of the units can adapt to current demands on affordable housing. For example the unit can increase the size of an existing apartment to accommodate a growing family, or the care of an aging relative.This allows families to grow in place, as opposed to being forced out of their current accommodations and possibly out of the city completely. By infusing affordable housing into established and highly desirable areas, the Cliff Swallow Apartment creates a more diverse and vibrant community. Additionally, creating even higher density in already dense areas reduces the stress on mass transit systems and prevents the wasteful effects of suburban sprawl.
• The Cliff Swallow Apartment addresses the need for new affordable housing in New York City by activating underutilized space in established high-density neighborhoods. It is a temporary micro-unit that can be attached to the sides of existing buildings without the need for new construction.
• The unit can increase the size of an existing apartment to accommodate a growing family or the care of an aging relative.
• The unit can add residential space where living space did not exist, ultimately creating a mixed-use community in previously single-use buildings.
• The unit’s design is inspired by the nest of the cliff swallow. The cliff swallow constructs dense communities of gourd-shaped nests on vertical structures throughout North America.
Full Description:
The overwhelming demand for housing in New York City has increased the cost of living to an unsustainable level, pushing low-income individuals far from the city center. Additionally, much of the city’s new residential construction focuses on the needs of the super-wealthy and the development of affordable housing has lagged behind. The Cliff Swallow Apartment addresses these issues by utilizing existing infrastructure and infusing affordable housing into established high-density areas.
The typical site for the Cliff Swallow Apartment is the exposed dividing wall between buildings of varying heights. Currently these spaces are completely unused or are occupied by painted advertisements. Neighborhoods with older construction have the highest instance of this building condition. The Flatiron, NoMad, Gramercy, and Union Square districts are prime candidates for implementation. Users access the unit through the taller building’s circulation paths. The unit temporarily leases the air rights above the shorter building, creating a mutually beneficial relationship between the new unit and the existing building below. If the unit is ever removed, the only repair to the existing taller building will be to fill in the cut for the front door.
The program of the units can adapt to current demands on affordable housing. For example the unit can increase the size of an existing apartment to accommodate a growing family, or the care of an aging relative.This allows families to grow in place, as opposed to being forced out of their current accommodations and possibly out of the city completely. By infusing affordable housing into established and highly desirable areas, the Cliff Swallow Apartment creates a more diverse and vibrant community. Additionally, creating even higher density in already dense areas reduces the stress on mass transit systems and prevents the wasteful effects of suburban sprawl.