Living cities - residential tower for the 21st centrury

VIEWING

ROOF GARDEN SKY

SKILL GREEN HOUSE RECEPTION WEDDING MUSIC

RESIDENTS RESIDENTS RESIDENTS

ORGANIC

RESIDENTS RESIDENTS RESIDENTS

RESIDENTS RESIDENTS RESIDENTS

RESIDENTS RESIDENTS RESIDENTS RESIDENTS RESIDENTS

SPORTS

RESIDENTS RESIDENTS

MEET

RELAX

TEACHING

LEARN CONVENIENCE STORE BOOKS

TEA

SWEETS

FREE TIME

HELLO

COFFEE

WI-FI

MEDIA

RESIDENTS RESIDENTS RESIDENTS RESIDENTS RESIDENTS VIDEOS

MARKET ORGANIC FOOD

TOYS

LECTURE

PEDESTRIAN ZONE

SHOPPING

PLAYGROUND SPIRITUAL CENTER

LIBRARY

DELICIOUS

SALE

WINE TEACHING

RESTAURANT SNACKS

KIDS

DAYCARE

RESIDENTS RESIDENTS

PLAYING

LOVE

LAUGH CHILDREN

FAMILY GATHERING

PARK

RESIDENTS RESIDENTS RESIDENTS

RESIDENTS RESIDENTS RESIDENTS RESIDENTS

MARINA

OUTDOOR SPACE

STUDY

GAMES

RECREATION CENTER

RELAX

RUNNING

SPA

CLIMBING

HEALTH WORKING OUT

REST

RESIDENTS RESIDENTS

PEACE

FOOD

CONVENIENT ECO SHOPPING

TECH

SAFE

GROCERY

SHARING RELIGION

TEACHING

TEAMWORK

FARMING

CANDY

RESIDENTS RESIDENTS RESIDENTS RESIDENTS RESIDENTS

HELP

LEARN

RESIDENTS RESIDENTS

RESIDENTS RESIDENTS

GREEN

RESIDENTS

RESIDENTS

RESIDENTS

NEIGHBOR

SITTING

THE CITY

CLASSROOM

GROWING

MOVIE

GARDEN

RENT

A Residential Tower for the 21st Century

FRESH AIR

RESIDENTS RESIDENTS RESIDENTS

RESIDENTS RESIDENTS RESIDENTS RESIDENTS

VERTICAL VILLAGE

PARTY

LIGHTS DOG WALKING

PEOPLE

LAZY TEA

COMMUNICATION AFTERNOON

VIEW FROM THE SITE TO MANHATTAN

VIEW OF THE SITE

WHY QUEENS? Our site is in Long Island City, Queens, a mainly working class and industrial neighborhood. Our goal for this project was to provide affordable housing to meet the rising demand here in Queens. Long Island City is a safe neighborhood which is home to many local artists. Apart from targeting middle income residents, we are hoping to provide a creative living environment to cater to the artistic character of the area. Subway, bus, and even ferry transportation to Manhattan and throughout Queens and Brooklyn are all within walking distance from our site. Finally, being located on the bank of the East River, our site affords spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline as well as prime access to the waterfront of Long Island City.

VIEW FROM MANHATTAN TO THE SITE

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e 1.3-1.8 people per household 1.8-2.3 people per household

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$94,000-$120,000 $120,000-$273,000

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0%-5.5% 5.5%-13.2%

AMENITIES WITHIN A 10 MINUTE WALK

transportation stops

public parks

special use (nypd, school, pharmacy, church)

227‘

227‘

food/restaurant

service/retail

residential

15’ se

tback on all sides 270’

private (manufacturing, vacant, etc.)

WHAT IS THE CHARACTER OF THE SITE?

225‘

40% maximum lot coverage

A CITY

A NEIGHBORHOOD

A BUILDING

WHAT IS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD

MAKE A NEIGHBORHOOD A BUILDING

residential shopping dining education greens health

VERTICAL VILLAGE: REDEFINING URBAN LIVING When designing for this project, our goal was to provide an affordable, alternative lifestyle to the anonymity of the big city. We took cues from a typical residential neighborhood to bring the idea of a close-knit community into our building. Starting at the city scale, we thought about what types of activities in a city help to bring people together and form relationships. Things such as community gardening, educational classes, and dining out were common, so we incorporated these into our building. At the smaller neighborhood scale, we mapped out the organization of a neighborhood, finding that a typical neighborhood is a collage of social spaces, streets, and residential blocks. This was translated in our design to form the distinct separation of the blocks and community spaces, as well as the vertical and horizontal circulation acting as streets. And finally for the building scale, we took our discoveries from the city and neighborhood and adapted them to fit a 40-story skyscraper, thereby creating a “vertical village.�

PRISM

DIVISION

SHIFTING

community space

CARVING

light holes

horizontal communication

CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS

CONNECTIVITY WITHIN RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS

THE EVOLUTION OF THE VERTICAL VILLAGE We began designing by thinking of a community as whole unit, a simple prism form. We then divided the form into distinct blocks similar to the setup of a neighborhood with community spaces between. Glass clearly denotes these functions as something different than the residential units and allows the steel structure to be openly visible. The next step was to shift the residential blocks in order to provide plenty of space and sunlight for the community gardens throughout the building.

Shifting in all directions allows for various light qualities needed by different plants. The shifting also helps further break down the building and gives each block its own unique character. Then we carved into the blocks to create light holes. These light holes allow ample natural daylighting and cross ventilation for the interior atrium space. They also provide spaces for gardening or community functions. The final step was finding a way to connect the entire building. Apart from the fire-rated stairs and the elevators, a secondary horizontal circulation was added that mimics an Italian corso: a community street full of activity. This corso connects the light holes and provides the final connection to compete the vertical village.

CONNECTIVITY

CORE VERTICAL COMMUNICATION 3 elevators 1 service elevator 2 evacuation stairs STAIRS CONNECTING LIGHT HOLES GREEN SPACES/LOUNGE AREAS CREATED BY LIGHT HOLES

RESIDENTIAL UNITS ACCESS RESIDENTIAL UNITS open skywalks around the inner diameter of residential block CENTRAL COMMUNITY SPACE bottom floor of each residential block for gathering

WHAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER?

ELEMENTS OF THE VERTICAL VILLAGE

STEEL

CONCRETE

GYPSUM

WOOD

GLASS

ECO-CLAD

VEGETATION

WATER

GROUND FLOOR 40’ x 40’

COMMUNITY FLOOR 40’ x 40’

RESIDENTIAL FLOOR 20’ x 20’

CONCRETE CORE PRIMARY BEAMS SECONDARY BEAMS CONCRETE FLOOR SLAB STEEL COLUMNS

W12 BEAM

Precast, prestressed concrete slab system with hooped bars that loop around shear connections set into wide flange beams.

Voids are filled with in situ concrete and covered with a strip waterproof membrane.

Desired finishes are placed on top.

SYSTEMS OF A MODERN VILLAGE Steel was the most logical structural system for our design not only due to its efficiency and sustainability, but also for its great versatility when space-planning. We used a 40’ x 40’ structural bay for the commercial floors, allowing ample column-free floor space for community use. A more modest 20’ x 20’ grid was employed in the residential floors. Because there are generally more walls to enclose the columns in residential units, there was no need to maintain the 40’ grid. W12 columns and beams are sufficient to support the building loads, with heavier members on the lower floors and community floors. Eight-inch precast concrete slabs were chosen because they are faster and easier to erect, easier to transport, and less disruptive to the construction site, community, and environment. The curtain wall system we selected is an innovative product called Eco-Clad. It is made from recycled paper and bamboo attached to steel studs and frames, making it one of the most sustainable products on the market. It meets all fire-safety and building construction standards. The warmth of the material is suitable for a residential building, and its character speaks to our target dwellers – those who seek a more creative, eco-sensitive lifestyle. Finally, sliding perforated metal panels complete the facade, allowing residents to control daylighting and views within their own apartments.

8” PRECAST CONCRETE FLOOR SLAB

W12 COLUMN

Stiffened bolted steel structure reinforced with seat angles and welded for extra rigidity against moment forces.

EAST RIVER

CONNECTING TO THE COMMUNITY Site/Ground Floor

50TH AVENUE

mail farmers market

craft store lobby

outdoor plaza

tiered seating

2ND STREET

media library

marina public park

CENTER BOULEVARD

51ST AVENUE

BORDEN AVENUE

02 4 8

20

40

“THE PIAZZA BLOCK” Level 10: Residential Floor

012 4

10

20

“THE RELAXATION BLOCK” Level 19: Residential Floor

012 4

10

20

“GARDENS OF THE FUTURE”

UP

Level 25: Hydroponic Farm and Grocery

hydroponic farm

community grocery

012 4

10

20

“THE HANGOUT SPOT” Rooftop Observation Deck and Cafe

012 4

10

20

“THE STUDENT” studio apartment 44 units 500 SF

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16'

32'

“THE BACHELOR PAD” 1 bedroom apartment 58 units 750 SF

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16'

32'

“THE NEWLYWEDS” 2 bedroom apartment 92 units 1,000 SF

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8'

16'

32'

“THE ANIMAL LOVERS” 3 bedroom apartment 49 units 1,350 SF

DN

UP

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16'

32'

VERTICAL VILLAGE