nARCHITECTS’ Carmel Place (formerly known as My Micro NY) provides 55 loft-like modular-tiny rental apartments, ranging in area from 260-360sf net, and complemented by generous shared amenities, setting a new standard for micro-living.
Conceived as a microcosm of the city skyline, the building’s exterior resembles four slender “mini towers”, connecting the concept of micro-living to the form and identity of the building. Carmel Place’s urban form could in principle be adapted to different sites, at a range of heights and floor area ratios, and at nearly any location in a block.
nARCHITECTS’ design goals for the unit interiors was to achieve a sense of spaciousness, comfort and efficiency, even while shrinking their footprint. To achieve this goal, the architect-developer team increased the size of everything except the floor area: 9’-8” ceilings result in a volume that is close to or exceeds that of a regulation 400sf apartment, which, coupled with the abundant daylight made possible by 8’ tall sliding windows and Juliet balconies, maximize the perceived volume of space. Extra storage space is located in the added height above the bathrooms.
nARCHITECTS also included to their project flexible built-in furnishings that integrate storage, couch and bed. The building’s five basic micro-unit types vary in size and configuration, thereby broadening the spectrum of choice for small family households.
Carmel Place is one of the first multi-unit Manhattan buildings using modular construction. Construction of Carmel Place consisted of fabrication, transportation and stacking of 65 individual self-supporting steel framed modules; 55 of which serve as residential micro-units, while the remaining 10 serve as the building’s core.
Architect: nARCHITECTS / Image Credit: Field Condition, Iwan Baan
Source: http://narchitects.com/
