Six Strategies for the “Unliked” envisions the potential of “ordinary” and sometimes considered “mundane” office buildings as a source and opportunity for experimentation in multiple housing possibilities. This is achieved through the development of six strategies and design opportunities that transform these buildings into habitable spaces. The project focuses on two adjacent office buildings on Park Avenue: 350 Park Avenue and the BlackRock Building, constructed in different eras, with varying dimensions and architectural styles. While 350 Park Avenue, designed in 1960 with a “wedding cake” style according to the 1916 Zoning Law, has been criticized for its lack of originality, the BlackRock Building, completed in 1986, features a distinct design. Instead of opting for demolition and constructing a new super-tall office skyscraper, our proposal combines these buildings to turn their architectural challenges into unique opportunities. By working with these buildings together as a single entity, we confront undesirable conditions such as misaligned floors, irregular floor plans, large central cores, and underutilized setbacks. We redirect these limitations to create a multifunctional and revitalized design. The irregularities and disjunctions between levels become opportunities to innovate and optimize the space.

Thus, Six Strategies for the “Unliked” proposes creating a scalable manual that can be applied to a variety of “apparently” ordinary buildings. This manual aims to uncover the spatial richness and architectural intervention opportunities within these structures. In response to the growing demand for housing, we seek to demonstrate that even the most “ordinary” buildings can become key elements in urban and social development, showcasing how innovation can emerge from the mundane and reinvigorate the urban fabric of the city.