CRITIC / MARIA SIEIRA

COMPLETED / FALL 2013

The goal in NYC is to “create homes for almost a million more New Yorkers while making housing and neighborhoods more affordable and sustainable. By 2030, New York City will be home to over nine million people - nearly one million more people than in 2005. As we prepare for the challenges and opportunities that will come with population growth, we must set our goals beyond just increasing the number of housing units-which will continue to be a major focus for the City. We must also create and maintain sustainable, affordable neighborhoods. We recognize that strong neighborhoods are among our greatest assets. Each neighborhood has its own distinctive character, history, and culture; maintaining this diversity plays a vital role in the continuing health of the City. 

Our program responded to existing/transitional neighborhood site conditions, a strong ecological mandate, and the tremendous need for housing. 
We investigated how the development can be scaled down, used the architecture to take on ecological issues such as flooding conditions and storm water management, and thought of our intervention as a catalyst in a neighborhood that is about to change.