06

The final units plans, renders and facade details.

To better utilize space, the units were reconfigured as lofts. Each bedroom is 12' x 10', with 400 square feet for open studio/gallery space within every unit, as well as it's own private entrance to a balcony.

The facade was designed as a sliding, user-controlled light filter system. The detail illustrates the various operations of the three separate louver mechanisms and set of sliding operable windows.

05

Below are the plans and sections from our midterm critique. As Nicole and I further configured the geometry of the units and floor plans, we found an opportunity to create three 12' x 8' light wells throughout the building.

Square footage was also available to create two open floor spaces from the main corridor to the front of the building. This allows the occupants to freely move through the 11' corridors to a larger open space.

A main component of both the unit and building as a whole is the "open art gallery" aspect. We compressed the units enough to allow flexible space in the corridors and the ground floor for a continuous gallery.

04

Due to the small size of the site and programmatic needs, my partner and I had to constantly reexamine the geometry of the unit. We both agreed from the start that the work and sleep space would be separate from one another. The units shown below include that aspect, along with variations of kitchen/bath locations.

The floor plan shown below was our "EUREKA!" moment. Once we settled on a general unit plan, which features a double height work and sleep space, we began to examine the layout of each floor. The geometry of the unit allowed us to stack them in an L formation, which left residual space between the units for additional social space in the corridors.

03

Both site analysis and our precedent study dealt with void and volume relationships. The site analysis began with a figure ground study, looking at our site within the larger context of Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.

As we began laying out the units and developing floor plans, it became apparent that we should analyze the arrangement in a similar fashion. Through these various iterations, we found opportunities to fit additional program for the occupants.

The teal-blue renders depict an early massing model of our building, which illustrates all 65 units within the site.

02

The site, on Grand Avenue in Brooklyn, in within the R6 zoning district. Similar zoning districts are used in areas with built-up, medium-density areas such as Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx.

The site itself is 150' (wide) x 100' (deep), however; only 150' x 70' is buildable, per the zoning code. The remaining 30 feet can be designed as a backyard/public space as the program and design develop.

The zoning code also requires that the building must be within a sky exposure plan, which begins at a height of 60 feet. The set-back after this point is 20 feet, as seen in the third image below.

This creates an unique challenge to accommodate for the required sixty-five 800 square foot dorm units within this limited space.

Fall 2008: 01

Course: Comprehensive Design I, Arch 301
Professor: Frederich Biehle
Partner: Nicole Grosso

Goal: Design a graduate housing building for Pratt Institute, located on Grand Avenue between Myrtle and Park in Brooklyn, NY.

Required: 65 units, 130 beds within the given site.

23

The final model; structure encapsulating program and 'opened'/'closed' skin conditions.