Conceptual proposal envisions futuristic mixed-use NYC project with micro units and drone landings

February 21, 2018

Although Mayor Bill de Blasio announced last year new mandates to force building owners to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as a way to fight climate change, a Dallas-based architecture firm has taken the idea of sustainable design to the next level. During last month’s International Builder’s Show, Humphreys & Partners presented a conceptual plan for a mixed-use project on Manhattan’s waterfront. In Pier 2: Apartment of the Future, the architects tackled major issues prevalent in many cities, like affordability and energy efficiency (h/t Curbed NY). The futuristic proposal includes two towers with modular and micro-units, which would boast futuristic amenities like artificial intelligence, drones, home automation and more.

The proposal cites Elon Musk’s Hyperloop proposal as a look into the future of transportation. The firm incorporates the concept of autonomous transportation by including automated parking systems, areas to land drones and energy-generating walkways. On the ground level of Pier 2, there will be a cashier-less Amazon Go store. The plan calls for facial recognition at the park and recreational areas near the Hudson River for more interactive displays.

Each unit at Pier 2 is pre-constructed and shipped to the site, both cost and time efficient. The concept of cohabitation is at the center of the firm’s proposal. While residents would be given the choice to live alone, the units are designed to be shared. Plus, the development will create co-working spaces on the lower levels.

The building’s exterior would be covered in greenery, both a unique design element and a way to purify the air. The units feature Photovoltaic glass, a window that saves electrical consumption in the summer and winter by over 30 percent. To reduce the building’s carbon footprint, it will be equipped with solar panels, Tesla energy and tidal power.

According to Humphreys & Partners, their proposal is about looking forward. “It’s not what’s happening today but what’s going to happen tomorrow. Pier 2 not only defies conventional multifamily design, but represents the answer to the question of what’s next.”

Learn more about the Pier 2 proposal here.

[Via Curbed NY]

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All renderings via Humphreys and Partners Architects 

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