WARREN STREET HOUSING

450 WARREN STREET MULTIFAMILY RESIDENCE, BROOKLYN NY

450 WARREN STREET 18 UNIT CONDOMINiUM AND COMMUNITY FACILITY
BROOKLYN NEW YORK

PROGRAM: 48,000 SQFT RESIDENTIAL, 4,400 SQ FT COMMUNITY FACILITY
Status: COMPLeTED 2022
team: kANE AUD /ARCHITECT, SO-IL/DESIGN, SILMAN/STRUCTURE, ABS/MEP DESIGN

450 WARREN IS THE FIRST OF THREE HOUSING PROJECTS DESIGNED IN COLLABORATION WITH SO-IL ARCHITECTS FOR TANKHOUSE DEVELOPERS. THE SITE IS A CORNER LOT SITUATED BETWEEN A TOWER IN A PARK HOUSING DEVELOPMENT TO THE WEST AND A BROWNSTONE BLOCK TO THE EAST AND the design SOUGHT TO BRING LESSONS FROM EACH TO CREATE A NEW APPROACH TO URBAN LIVING.

A KEY ELEMENT OF THE PROJECT IS THE INTRODUCTION OF THE PRINCIPAL THAT EACH UNIT SHOULD BE REACHED DIRECTLY FROM THE EXTERIOR THROUGH A SHARED CIRCULATION SPACE TO PROVIDE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY. yOU ENTER THE PROJECT THROUGH A COURTYARD AT THE CENTER OF THE SITE AND EACH UNIT IS GIVEN A EXTERIOR VESTIBULE CREATING A SENSE OF ARRIVAL SIMILAR TO A STOOP. THE DESIGN COMBINES THE BEST ASPECTS OF COMMUNITY LIVING WITH THE FREEDOM AND INDIVIDUAL AUTONOMY THAT MAKES TOWNHOUSES POPULAR.  

THE INDIVIDUAL DWELLING UNITS WERE DESIGNED TO HAVE MUTLIPLE EXPOSURES FOR DAYLIGHT AND FOR NATURALLY CROSS VENTILATATION IN ORDER REDUCE RELIANCE ON ARTIFICIAL MECHANICAL AND LIGHTING SYSTEMS. EACH UNIT RECEIVED ATLEAST 2 PRIVATE EXTERIOR TERRACES CONNECTED TO LIVING AND BEDROOMS, IN ADDITION TO THREE COURTYARDS AND EXTERIOR CORRIDORS.   

THE FAÇADE DESIGN INCLUDES A CUSTOM 8” X 8” X 8” MASONRY BLOCK THAT SETS THE OVERALL PROPORTIONAL SYSTEM FROM WHICH ALL PLANS AND ELEVATIONS ARE FORMED.  THIS INTERNAL LOGIC GIVes THE PROJECT A STRONG IDENTITY WHILE ALLOWING INDIVIDUAL SPACES TO BE EXPRESSED THROUGH VOIDS OR BREAKS IN THE MODULE. THE BUILDING ENVELOPE INCLUDES A high insulation values, thermall broken windws and tight air tightness tHAT EXCEEDed ENERGY CODE REQUIRMENTS BY 20%, THIS ENERGY EFFECIENCY ALLOWED FOR A ZONING BONUS WHICH WAS  GIVEN BACK TO THE PROJECT THROUGH ADDITIONAL FlOOR AREA.