ABOUT
Typology
Mixed Used Residential
Location Undisclosed
Design Team
Matthew O’Malia,
Riley Pratt, Timothy Lock,
Michelle Bezik, Edith Gawler
Micro Unit Tower
A developing problem with housing in the United States is that 87% of the US population will live in cities by 2050 and most people will not be able to afford buying or renting homes in those locations. A potential solution might be to build multifamily micro-unit towers to eliminate the wasted space contained in most urban homes. It is estimated that 90% of residents’ time is spent in just 40% of their dwelling; the remaining space is underutilized or wasted.
Unfortunately, the housing market is currently dominated by expensive, not right-sized living spaces, so young adults often end up living with their parents or roommates. In fact, more than 85% of New Yorkers have one or more roommates, in spaces that are not designed for co-living, resulting in awkward, inefficient and downright bad living environments. Accordingly, the solution is to design right-sized homes or apartments that better meet typical needs and budgets.
The micro unit tower project explores creating a dense but highly livable multi-family housing configuration, with a focus on hyper-efficient micro living units within a vertical distribution of public spaces throughout the building. Well designed, efficient, private living spaces do away with the bedroom (or the living room depending on the time of the day or night) through the use of flexible spaces and re-configurable furniture.
Efficient housing units reduce tenant costs, while maintaining the building owner’s income, allowing owners the ability to set aside more space to create quality tenant amenities and public spaces that heighten community and provide flexible program opportunities that enhance the living experience of the building occupants.
