Phototropic TOWER

  • Highline, Manhattan, New York

  • Conceptual Design Proposal for a Net Zero Energy Residential Tower

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The Phototropic Tower is a design proposal for a site in lower Manhattan, situated right next to the High Line, where active urban transformation is taking place. Once a heavily industrialized area adjacent to the Chelsea Piers, with extensive transportation activities, the site used to be bustling with traffic and various activities. The Phototropic Tower extends the High Line's concept of introducing green space into the urban context by providing an elevated green platform along the circulation in the podium area. The multi-level plaza connects various outdoor areas by wrapping around the lower portion of the tower, introducing various viewpoints and resting areas that are seamlessly connected to the High Line park.

 

1. Living rooms project outward, while bedrooms recess inward: The living room is the primary space for daytime use, while the bedroom is more suitable for nighttime activities. By projecting the living room outward, it becomes a brighter space with an excellent view of the street. In contrast, the bedroom will have a higher solid-to-glass ratio with stronger insulation to minimize nighttime heat loss.

2. Tilt the facades toward the sun: By tilting the main facades towards the south, each unit will have better exposure to the sun, improving both daylight conditions and providing better solar heat gain throughout the year.

3. The typical floor plan of the Phototropic Tower includes seven one-bedroom units, one two-bedroom unit, and two small common rooms interconnected to the adjacent levels. The direction and angle of the tilted facades are determined by the optimum angle to introduce maximum sunlight at the given site. The living rooms project out 16 ft from the structural wall to gain maximum exposure to the sun during the daytime, while the bedroom units are recessed inside for better insulation and security at night.

4. Each common room has operable openings that can be used to control cross-ventilation throughout the building. The common rooms are strategically located at the end of each hallway so that they can face each other, creating better cross-ventilation.