Supercore Modular Housing

East Harlem, New York
Columbia GSAPP
Collaboration with Jordan Meerdink
190,000 SF
2013

This 300-unit housing scheme situated at Park Avenue and 131st Street is a study in the possibilities of modular housing at a large scale. It is also a reaction to a challenging urban edge condition: a triangular lot wedged between a highway, a busy railroad viaduct, and a series of off-ramps, with an underutilized riverfront in close proximity.

In addition to lowering construction costs, modular construction affords the opportunity to evenly distribute different unit types across the full-building aggregation, fostering greater socioeconomic diversity. This flexibility is achieved by encasing all the structural, egress, mechanical, kitchen, and bathroom programs into an efficient core module that can accept two plugged-in dwelling modules per floor in unlimited combinations.

On an urban scale, the project acts both as a bridge and a portal. To avoid flooding issues and conflicts with the surrounding infrastructure, the entire project is elevated with limited points of connection to the ground. A raised public courtyard connects to recreational waterfront pathways via footbridges. An angular site plan creates separation between the dwelling units and the surrounding infrastructure.