GREEN OASIS

Nestled on Gates Avenue 393 stands an abandoned parking lot, surrounded by metal fences. It is the only unbuilt lot in the block. When this lot was assigned to me as the site for my Architecture Design III apartment housing project, I intuitively knew that it should be much more than just another concrete tower, squeezed between existing structures. Instead, I approached it as an opportunity to create a central hub for the community, a sole green space in the block, which also offers amenities like a swimming pool, daycare, community kitchen, and retail spaces, cleverly tucked underground. Furthermore, there is an abandoned earth road at the back of the site, connecting to Quincy street, currently blocked by the metal fence. Creating a circulation path through my site establishes a green shortcut road for the local community, inspiring the project’s name – Green Oasis.

The site itself comes with its challenges- other buildings on 3 sides of the lot lane create shadows and block sunlight. Given the requirement of 30 units within the 100’x125′ lot, I proposed an unconventional solution for NYC: two-story apartments. The upper floors feature windows on 2 or 3 sides, facilitating quality natural ventilation and diffused natural light throughout the day. Some windows open to the exterior and some to the glass hallway, overlooking the other side of the site. As New York building permits recently increased the allowable height limit of CLT structures, I am taking advantage of this sustainable material and letting it inform the shape of the structure. The CLT beams are left exposed inside the apartments, providing warm tones and a sense of nature. During summer, passive shading devices shield the building from overheating, while in winter, sunlight warms the apartments through their large windows.