New Square Townhomes
New Square, New York
Designed using requirements established by the New York State Housing Development Authority as well as following the religious principles imposed by the community, this 22 unit garden apartment represented a challenge to our designers.
The challenge was how to achieve approval from the authorities in Albany for the development of 3 to 5 bedroom units with specific design requirements, not typical in housing of this type, and meet the unique needs of this religious community.
Considerations included 8 foot wide corridors to ensure adequate separation of men and women within common areas, exterior entries allowing no more than 4 families to share a common entrance way, as well as providing a central corridor system linking all the units to an elevator for barrier-free compliance. Additionally, units were designed with space to allow families to develop a second kitchen for ritual purposes.
This project won a design award from the state of New York and was cited as a demonstration project that low income housing need not be unattractive.