adAPT NYC : innovative micro-unit apartment housing

In an effort to address housing concerns throughout the city, New York City held the adAPT NYC Competition, back in July 2012, in search for a micro-unit apartment building that would be developed into a new housing model for the “small household population”. Read the rationnel behind the project and competition here. The winner and five finalists were announced late Jan 2013, revealing a sharp focus on consolidating various living areas to save space and resolving to give multi-functionality where ever possible. There is also an emphasis on community in each of the proposals, making up for the small units with more public amenities within the building. 

nARCHITECTS teamed up with Monadnock Development LLC and the Actors Fund Housing Development Corporation to design My Micro NY, a building of 55 apartments with 40 percent at affordable rents. Modules will be hoisted into place over a period of just two weeks and the exterior of the building will be clad in graduated shades of brickwork. Each residence will feature a compact kitchen with a cooker, fridge, pull-out pantry and space for microwave, plus a combined living and sleeping area and a bathroom. Storage areas are also included and comprise a loft and closet. As well as apartments, the building will contain a laundry room, bicycle storage, a gym and a series of communal lounge and multi-purpose areas. A roof terrace on the eighth floor will provide space for outdoor events and activities. Construction is expected to begin at the end of 2013 and more schemes will be initiated in the future, as part of the mayor's bid to provide 165,000 new homes for New Yorkers by 2014.

The adAPT NYC initiative is a part of Mayor Bloomberg’s New Housing Marketplace Plan, a multi-billion dollar initiative to finance the creation or preservation of 165,000 units of affordable housing by the close of Fiscal Year 2014. This pilot project will not only create new types of much needed housing; but will also set the stage for much need regulatory relief to make room for more housing choices for NYCs growing population.