New York, N.Y.
Architect: Rothzeid, Kaiserman, Thomson & Bee
Contractor: N/A General
Products used: multiple VELUX skylights
The challenge of Prospect Gardens was to design comfortable, airy and light-filled homes while finding a means for utilizing the numerous vacant sites in New York for use as affordable housing. The result is the development of two apartment buildings, each 37.5 feet wide, which together fill a 75-foot wide site.
Each building contains 8 apartments or 4 duplexes and 4 simplexes in 6 stories. Clearly the measure of light-filled rooms has been met and exceeded. Through a combination of quality design and materials, these homes have an enhanced sense of spaciousness and calm.
Because of the size of the building only one stair is required. This stair, a key design element, was conceived as a vertical extension of the street. Since it is on the front of the building a strong visual connection is created between it and the street. This aspect also helps to alleviate the tedium of climbing stairs and promotes a strong sense of security since it can be viewed from the street.
The building ran for $100 per sq. ft. and sold out in literally one day at more than four times that cost. RKT & B plans to continue developing this prototype to accommodate a variety of lot sizes throughout communities in a plan to provide the urgent need for housing of middle income individuals and families.
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