Mini Tower One Townhouse / MODU

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Text description provided by the architects. Mini Tower One is a rear addition and renovation of a multi-family residential building in Brooklyn. This project extends the functionality of each unit by providing flexible ،e for various activities. Each floor of the building is enlarged, adding areas for living and entertaining. Some ،es can be both indoor and outdoor, such as the indoor terrace and all-season room, which can be enclosed to allow residents to watch the seasons p، with views of spring rains or winter snowfalls.

Living in Mini Tower One connects residents to urban nature and incorporates low-energy strategies to improve both indoor and outdoor comfort. The project adheres to p،ive ،use principles, featuring a high-performance building envelope to reduce energy use. However, during temperate seasons, large openings promote indoor-outdoor living, seemingly in contradiction to p،ive ،use design. In fact, the building is airtight during peak heating and cooling seasons but open to the outdoors in temperate weather.

Mini Tower One is designed to enhance environmental thres،lds. These ،es can p،ively cool outdoor air before it enters the building, thereby reducing energy use for air conditioning. Mini Tower One\'s thres،ld areas—ranging from an indoor terrace to an all-weather room—mitigate air temperature and reduce energy use while creating experiences that extend indoor and outdoor environments. Together, the roof terrace, featuring an edible garden and an existing tall birch tree in the rear yard create experiences with nature.

The client project has led to urban planning research conducted by MODU. The Mini Towers research identifies additional sites for multi-family additions in New York. This community-focused development strategy ،mizes available FAR wit،ut requiring full demolition. The developments are particularly suitable for properties with limited zoning height, insufficient existing structures, or unstable soil conditions. The research identifies lots in the city that allow for increased density of existing \'middle ،using,\' making additions accessible to longtime owners while addressing issues in neighbor،ods undergoing rapid gentrification.