Project by Zhaosen Luo and Zhang
This project envisions an immigrant-centered affordable housing collective in New York City, designed as a flexible and evolving ecosystem. Rooted in both spatial equity and environmental psychology, the design draws from feng shui principles and the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) to organize shared programs and promote balance between residents and their surroundings. A through-block framework weaves together modular dwelling units with communal infrastructures—such as shared kitchens (Fire), bath hubs (Water), libraries and gardens (Wood), and repair labs (Metal). These shared elements serve as sites of exchange: of knowledge, culture, stories, and food. Residents are empowered to adapt interior layouts through movable walls and customizable partitions, cultivating a sense of ownership and place attachment. Over time, this participatory architecture fosters not only self-sufficiency but a ripple effect—transforming the site into a dynamic cultural corridor that extends beyond the block and into the broader East Village community.
