Bradhurst senior housing

  • PLACE: Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation

  • CLIENT: Harlem Congregation for Community Improvement (HCCI)

  • DURATION: 3 Months

  • ROLE: Designer and UX Researcher

 
 
 

The problem

New York City is full of underutilized city-owned infill lots (vacation plots of land between existing buildings). One of these lots is 223 W 148th Street, gifted from the city to HCCI, a Harlem-based nonprofit. While the city has been hesitant to approve developing 223 W 148th, the property is underutilized, financially unsustainable, and inadequately services the needs of the community.

Existing Site Conditions (Sept. 2021)

 

A Solution for housing, workforce development, & Green space

The proposed research and design highlight the need for local senior housing, affordable units, and community programming that supports upward mobility.

 
 

Understanding the Problem

By analyzing localized data  to New York City as a whole, my findings show Bradhurst is has a much higher rate of rent-burdened residents and a larger percentage of senior citizens per capita.

The site is centrally located within Bradhurst and conveniently located between two of the existing Henry Brooks Senior Housing and Philip Randolph Senior Center, making it a prime location for senior facilities. While the City is hesitant to develop the site, I conducted a series of site studies that indicate the underutilization of the land.

I interviewed members of HCCI to better understand the needs of the community. Based on the interview responses I received, I found that many of the residents support local development if there is preservation of affordable housing and shared access to community spaces.

Coming Up with Ideas and Solutions

To design for community needs is to design with real-world financial constraints. 

I began looking at Low Income Housing Tax credits and existing zoning restrictions. As a result, my massing is informed by the suggested condition of at least 50 units.

DESIGNING + PROTOTYPING

Sketching for Efficient Flows + Visualizations 

I started to look at surrounding architectural motifs to make informed design decisions on the flow and aesthetic of the building.

 

ROUND OF TESTING AND IMPROVEMENTS

Experience of the Residents.

Most low-income senior residents live alone and are typically allotted studio apartments in affordable developments. During my user testing, I experimented with different room designs and configurations to maximize natural light and user flexibility for seniors. The configuration allows flexible walls to be installed and Juliet balconies for maximum light and air.

Final Design with added revisions

To address the needs of privacy for senior residents and public access, the ground floor contains separate egress for residents, the community computer lab, and a public garden accessed by a shared atrium.