2024 - Lumina Residences

Lumina Residences emerges as a beacon of affordability and innovation in New York City. Formerly an office building, it is carved into a housing complex where its facade acts as a catalyst for natural and artificial light that enhances the daily lives of its inhabitants. Through our process stage, we used physical and digital material studies to develop our redesign of this existing building further. Through the twists, pinches, crunches, and dynamic organic quality of metal mesh, we discovered that light can be diffused and transformed within spaces, enhancing both how light comes in, and how much light comes into a space. This renovation project not only gives the old a new purpose; it’s a testament to thoughtful design and community consciousness. Within Lumina Residence’s walls, every corner is bathed in light through its curving organic facade mesh; carefully orchestrated to create welcoming and functional spaces. From the bedrooms to the kitchens, light plays a central role, enhancing aesthetics and practicality. As day turns to night, the facade becomes a canvas for artistic expression, where its fixed lighting fixtures illuminate the interior even further. All in all, Lumina Residences redefines affordable housing through its manipulation of light, further demonstrating how light can have an immense impact on the daily lives of its inhabitants, and how it serves a role in making affordable housing more humane.