Location context
Wider location – The site is located within a family-oriented neighborhood, in immediate proximity to both lower and upper elementary schools — reflecting a strong presence of children and contributing to a more domestic, community-oriented character. An adjacent playground reinforces this atmosphere, creating a pocket of urban space that feels tamed and welcoming for families.
Within a short 3-minute walk is the Melrose train station, offering direct transit to northern Manhattan. This connection provides excellent access to the island and strengthens the site’s relationship with the broader metropolitan area.
Narrow Location – The intervention replaces a set of outdated garages, introducing a new architectural gesture into a street where neighboring buildings have not seen recent development. The project contributes a contemporary revitalization to the streetscape, offering a fresh presence while respecting the surrounding urban fabric.
Plot Organization
The building aligns directly with the street wall, following the regulation boundary and maintaining urban continuity. Behind the building, a private rear yard offers a recreational zone exclusive to residents. Enclosed by fencing for privacy, this shared outdoor space is envisioned as a flexible hub for community use — suitable for leisure, social interaction, or the cultivation of a communal garden, depending on the evolving needs of the tenant community.
Building Organization
The building comprises 16 residential units in total. The ground floor features three studio apartments — one oriented toward the street (west), and two toward the private rear yard (east). The first floor is fully compliant with ADA standards, ensuring accessible circulation and safety for residents with reduced mobility.
Floors 2 through 4 follow a consistent layout of four units per floor: two 1-bedroom and two studio apartments. A single studio unit is located at the roof level, offering added privacy and elevated views. Bicycle storage is located on the ground floor for convenience and accessibility. The main entrance is positioned centrally along the façade, serving as the intersection point for vertical and horizontal circulation. This central core organizes the building symmetrically, a principle that echoes in the rhythmic arrangement of windows on both street and courtyard façades.
The façade grid reflects the structural logic and visual balance of the building — a nod to the project’s conceptual and branding alignment with the architectural office, GRID.
Heating and cooling are provided via PTAC units (Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners), installed beneath the windows in each apartment. These are paired with energy-efficient aluminum windows and well-insulated wall assemblies, ensuring airtightness and minimal thermal bridging. The result is an energy-responsible envelope that maintains interior comfort across seasons, preventing the intrusion of outside air and preserving the building’s performance standards.
Organization of the Apartments
The ground floor includes three ADA-compliant studio apartments, each averaging 330 square feet. These units are thoughtfully designed with a spacious open-plan living area, integrated kitchen, full bathroom, and dedicated closet or storage space. Their layout ensures comfort and ease of circulation for people with reduced mobility.
On the typical floors (Levels 2–4), the building features a mix of studio and 1-bedroom apartments.
Studio units (375 SF) offer a well-defined entry sequence that opens into a large multi-functional living space, accommodating living, sleeping, and dining or home office zones. Each includes a built-in kitchen, a dedicated bathroom, and an integrated closet.
The 1-bedroom apartments are organized around a functional core. Entry leads through a compact hall accessing the bathroom and kitchen, which is semi-separated from the main living space. The living room (168 SF) is generous and equipped with two closets, and it connects directly to the bedroom — which includes a dedicated wardrobe, offering ample storage throughout.
At the roof level, a penthouse studio apartment benefits from enhanced volume and natural light. It includes the most storage space of any unit, featuring a generous entrance area with a separate entry wardrobe, bathroom, and an open-plan kitchen/living zone with street-facing views.
In a neighborhood where most buildings date from 1913 to 2007, this project stands out as the only recent construction built to meet current energy performance standards. The choice of high-performance ALU windows and modern mechanical ventilation systems will not only ensure year-round comfort but also signal the building’s commitment to long-term sustainability and reduced operational costs.