Research + Design Advanced Studio
Kitchen House
The Kitchen House is a community-focused housing project that builds on our research into transforming common byproducts in New York State into new building materials, creating a circular and sustainable design practice. Inspired by the first research assignment, which emphasized accessibility, especially for children, this project extends that ethos into a built form. At its core, the design fosters connection and shared experiences: the home becomes a place not just to live, but to cook, learn, and create together.
The design centers on a hexagonal structure that naturally supports communal spaces through exterior terraces, interior pathways, and a central courtyard. At the heart of each unit cluster is a shared kitchen and dining space, imagined as both a place to prepare meals and a workshop for material making. The roof combines a green roof and greenhouse, further integrating food and material production into daily life. Hexagonal modules can be combined to form larger communities, with the overlaps creating additional shared kitchens. Within the house, three unit types, ranging from one to three bedrooms, follow the hexagonal geometry, maximizing compact layouts to create well-designed apartments for individuals, couples, and families alike.
The Urban Rigger
Bjarke Ingels
Casa 32, Housing Laboratory
MOS
Fujian Tulou
Model Making
This project is represented in two models, a massing assembly model and a section cut model through the building. The section model, displayed to the left, helps demonstrate the dynamics between private and public space and the different floors of the building.
