With the framework of Blue Zone Living, this housing development refocuses on how people move, what they eat, and how they maintain deep personal relationships to increase longevity in New York City. Located at an intersection between a commercial district and residential neighborhood, urban farming becomes a tool for social and spatial connection. A common circulation core connecting 70 units enables social interaction and incorporates stairs into residents’ daily movement. Unit aggregation facilitates intergenerational living through adjacencies of studio, 1 bedroom, and 3 bedroom units, clustered nodally in groups of 5-7 to promote a circle of close friendships outside of the family unit. Food systems are a focus of Blue Zones, and the proposal incorporates locally sourced, plant based food at multiple scales. Critically, the proposal looks to partner with Harlem Grown to develop an urban farm for both production and education on the adjacent vacant lot. The site’s two existing buildings connect this farming activity to the larger community through adaptive reuse into commercial space including a farmers market, incubator kitchen, agricultural education, and headquarters for Harlem Grown. This built environment nurtures a healthy life for its long term residents who are deeply connected to their surrounding community.
