“This project originated from a critical inquiry into the inefficiency of New York City’s Christmas tree recycling, exploring how seasonal biological waste can be reimagined as permanent urban infrastructure. The research evolved into a biocentric ADU design that mediates the tension between NYC’s tree canopy expansion and the ”“City of Yes”“ housing initiative. While existing trees on private lots are often cleared as zoning obstacles, this proposal integrates the built form with the natural landscape, transforming the unit into a functional carbon sink.
Designed for single residents in their 20s, the ADU provides a private sanctuary and a personal yard within the dense urban fabric. By utilizing prefabricated straw panels—a high-performance, carbon-storing biological material—the ”“House with a Tree”“ demonstrates the viability of carbon-smart architecture. This approach redefines the ADU as a sustainable living system that preserves local ecology while securing high-quality, climate-positive housing for the next generation.”
