HUDSON RESIDENCES
Schematic Design | New York, 2023
The project is located near the Manhattanville Campus of Columbia University and aims to provide 75 affordable apartments for students and residents. An Amtrak service line runs directly across the full length of the building site, presenting a design challenge. However, this also gives the building a distinctive formal identity.
The project carefully navigates NYC zoning regulations and underwent numerous community meetings to ensure it was agreeable to local residents. The building's height was intentionally reduced to preserve the views of the Hudson River from Riverside Drive and the local park.
The project offers two distinct directions of views. The top two floors and the rooftop face the Hudson River and the New Jersey hills in the distance, while the lower three floors, separated by the train line, overlook the local park. The side views offer stunning vistas of the Manhattan skyline and the George Washington Bridge.
For the formal aesthetic, I wanted to preserve the roughness of the original brick warehouse building and contrast it with a floating, ship-like stainless steel structure atop the brick base. This steel-clad object absorbs the flow of the Hudson River into its design, while the rear facade remains sleek and quiet in its architectural expression.
Bird's View Rendering
The irregular property line and the cutout for the train line alone create a strong, expressive form. The undulation of the river-facing facade and the striking cantilever further enhance the uniqueness of the design.
Zoning Envelope
South-West Axon
Street Facade Rendering
The city-facing facade is designed to visually break up the 360-foot-long linear facade with a vertical rhythm of pillars. One side of each pillar is slanted to capture the shadow play of the southern sun, thus softening the overall rhythm.
North-East Axon
North & South Elevations
Typical Plans
6-7th Floor Plan
5th Floor Plan
3-4 Floor Plan
Interior of Penthouse apartment with the view over Hudson River
Enlarged Apartment Plan
East & West Elevations
Alternative Facade Ideas
