Commuter community

How can architecture embed the communte to work in a building?

/a live - work artist housing complex

/784 Myrtle Avenue, Bed Stuy, Brooklyn in partnership with Jibraan Zobairi resident’s daily commute: live level roof level live level live level work level work level ground level

The notion of work-life balance applies not only to the way we organize and structure our time but also to the way we organize and structure the spaces we inhabit.

Located in the artist community of Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, research started with a focus on the health and safety of the neighbourhood. Relative to other areas of the city, bed stuy’s standard of health was found to be low.

Thus, this project approaches the work-live typology by separating programs of “work” and “live” to define the “commute” and the importance it plays in a healthy live-work environment and lifestyle.

The plans, sections on this page illustrate the everyday circulation/commute - from the live level, to the work level and the break visit to the rooftop or a visit to the ground floor to interact with the local community. The moodboard is an example of the interiors for one studio.

Facade Chunks

The circulation between the levels, encourages the occupant to follow a dedicated circulation path of choice, by engaging auditory, visual, and tactile sensory experiences in order to transition the occupant from a “live” state of mind to a “work” state of mind.

The north facade, with the design of a facade staircase, engages auditory and visual senses through a connection to the city outside, to see and hear people walking, playing basketball, and cars going by.

The south facade, engages visual and tactile senses through a more intimate experience. You can feel the sun’s heat warming you up for a big day of work while getting a visual sense of nature through a view of the backyard.

The storyboard illustrates a typical day in the life of a resident and the visitor. The ground floor, as a continuation of the street housing public programs like a gallery, meeting rooms and a gym for the visitor and resident to meet.

The building also encourages occupants to have a more intimate experience with nature and non-human occupants with “pockets” of outdoor space that feature specific vegetation (milkweed) to attract monarch butterflies, (migratory species foung in new york).

Sustainable features in the building includes a green roof, permeable pavers on the rood for rainwater harvesting, solar film is installed on top of the louvres and an open plan with core stairs allowing stack and cross ventilation.

The technical drawings illustrate a simplified version of the door, windows, stairs, a typical bath, a typical floor, and an elevation.