It is hard to imagine that something might be missing in huge New York. But the Carmel Place project was able to offer an unprecedented housing format for the Big Apple. The complex, located in the Lower East End, on 27th Street, almost on the banks of the East River, contains 55 residential units ranging from 24 to 33.5 m2. The project was developed almost as a typical one: as if composed of four flat "towers" of different heights, each 3.35 m thick, the building can be easily adapted for different cities, and its ledge silhouette will fit into both high-rise and low-rise quarters of any layout …
Studies have shown that the percentage of singles who absolutely do not need large apartments in New York and other cities is quite high and is projected to grow further. The authors of the project tried to provide such people with comfortable and economical housing. The modularity of the structure helped to reduce the cost of construction: only the foundation and the first floor were erected on site, and all the upper floors were assembled from 65 ready-made blocks with an integrated supporting steel frame. Traditional New York brick facades, for which unusual but universal shades of gray have been chosen, help to fit the building into the urban context. The architects also borrowed the proportions of windows, corridors and stairs from typical 19th century American tenement houses made of dark brown sandstone.
Carmel Place was developed as part of the housing program of former Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Interestingly, in order to implement it, it was even necessary to adjust the norms for the minimum size of a residential unit (previously, the minimum was 37 sq. M.) And the maximum number of such units in a building. The social significance of the project helped to achieve the changes: 22 out of 55 apartments will be allocated for the affordable housing program (eight of them are intended for veterans, and for the remaining 14 more than 60,000 applications were submitted: this typology was so in demand!). The remaining 33 apartments are for free rent, and prices for it can reach $ 3,000 per month.
The architects have developed five standard apartment layouts. In all of them they tried to expand the space as much as possible. Firstly, the height of the ceilings was increased to almost 3 m, so that the final volume of the cell was no less than that of the standard 37-meter "studios". Secondly, they installed huge windows - almost 2.5 m high, which provide excellent illumination and reveal the interiors to the surrounding city. Thirdly, they used French balconies. And fourthly, they provided a kind of mezzanine above the bathroom for storing things. For all social and half of ordinary apartments, an interior design was developed based on folding and built-in furniture. Light colors of the finish also contribute to the visual increase in space.
By minimizing personal ownership as much as possible, the architects quite logically provided residents with various public areas. A spacious glazed atrium connects the west and east entrances to the building and ends with a small patio. In addition to a purely technical function, it can be used for various gatherings and holidays. On the ground floor there is also a shop, a gym, a separate cozy area with built-in benches. In the basement there is a laundry room, a parking lot for bicycles, and additional storage for things. And on the 8th floor there is another public area with access to an open roof terrace. All these spaces should facilitate close contact of single tenants with each other.
