Illustration of colorful city buildings with people walking on the sidewalk and a yellow taxi cab in the street.

Pocket Housing

Pocket Housing, is a multi-family building typology tailored to narrow urban infill lots that have been left vacant because they’re considered too odd to be buildable. Pocket Housing takes inspiration from pocket parks that are dispersed throughout the city and despite their small size, have a substantial positive impact on community life.

Infill Lots
Residential
Varies
Concept design

location:
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 The project is comprised by three systems; structural cores, floors that span between the cores, and a building envelope. The cores perform as the primary structure in order to span the unit’s floors between each core and to eliminate the need for additional load bearing walls.

Isometric illustration of a multi-story shelving unit with wooden shelves and a metal frame, including a concrete floor at the base.

The project is comprised by three systems; structural cores, floors that span between the cores, and a building envelope. The cores perform as the primary structure in order to span the unit’s floors between each core and to eliminate the need for additional load bearing walls.

Structural Diagram

An isometric drawing of a city block showing brownstone-style buildings with front steps, trees, sidewalks, and people walking. One building features a green rooftop terrace with outdoor seating and garden areas.

View showing the front facade that takes formal cues from the neighboring buildings with the stoop, simpler lower levels, and more articulated upper stories.

Freeing the interior walls and building envelope from their structural obligations increases the flexibility and variation possible within the unit layouts, as well as saving space through a reduction in required wall thickness.

Cross-section of a modern multi-story building with green balconies, stairs, and terraces, showing interior rooms, outdoor spaces, and people walking.

To this end, a pocket space is left between the unit and the neighboring building which allows for a third façade to be filled with light and ventilation. This third façade is also occupied by circulation, curtain walls, and unit balconies.

Isometric view of Standrd lot variant

Interior view of a modern apartment lobby with two people, a woman in a green dress and a man in a blue hoodie, near the elevator. The space has white textured walls, a black sideboard with decorative items, potted plants, and large windows with green safety netting outside.

View from entry through lobby to the elevator core (green door). The lobby has direct access to outdoor balcony at the lowest level of the “pocket” space.

Circulation winds through this space connecting to the stoop of each unit. This path is conceived of as social space that ties the community together. It commences in a generous lobby that opens to the outdoor space at street level, and culminates in a large communal roof deck that can be used for gatherings.

Interior view of a modern home with a brick wall, green staircase, potted plant, yellow chair, and a cat near the elevator.

View of a one bedroom unit from the living room towards the kitchen and rear yard.

View of an outdoor fire escape with green metal stairs and railings attached to a brick building, overlooking a narrow alley with neighboring buildings.

View from a third floor unit balcony towards the rear yard.

A man in a pink shirt and blue jeans walking up a bright green outdoor ladder, with a brick wall on the left and a speckled white wall on the right, leading to a balcony with pink and white balloons and a house in the background.

View of stairs that lead to the rooftop deck.

Circulation winds through this space connecting to the stoop of each unit. This path is conceived of as social space that ties the community together. It commences in a generous lobby that opens to the outdoor space at street level, and culminates in a large communal roof deck that can be used for gatherings. 

Architectural cross-section of a multi-story building showing interior rooms, stairs, and underground support structures.

Section

Pocket Housing’s structural system allows for the deployment of this new housing typology in multiple urban settings with odd or narrow shaped lots.

Plans

the space between the structural cores allows for larger living areas and unit varieties.


Architectural illustration of a city block showing residential buildings with front walkways, stairs, trees, and a central outdoor area with a modern glass staircase connecting different levels.

Shallow lot variant with single span for sites with both narrow length and width.

Isometric view of a modern multi-story building with balconies, staircases, and interior spaces including a terrace with plants and furniture, and interior rooms with wooden floors and large windows.

This shallow lot variant includes; four studio units, a lobby, storage space, and a rooftop deck.

An architectural illustration of a modern multi-story building with terraces and stairs, surrounded by various urban elements including trees, people walking, and neighboring buildings in a cityscape.

Corner lot variant where the third facade faces the street for increased light and ventilation.

Cross-sectional illustration of a modern multi-story building with open floors, glass walls, staircases, and outdoor terraces with potted plants and people walking.

This corner lot variant includes; two studio units, four single family units, a lobby, storage space, a second floor terrace, and a rooftop deck.