Pier 2 New York City Vision, Manhattan Apartments of the Future, Architect, Concept Images

Pier 2: Apartment of the Future

Future Vision for Manhattan Waterfront Building, NYC design by Humphreys & Partners Architects, USA

Feb 22, 2018

Pier 2: Apartment of the Future, New York

Design: Humphreys & Partners Architects

Pier 2: Apartment of the Future

Welcome to the Future – a bold vision by Humphreys & Partners recently presented at the 2018 International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Florida.

The high-rise multi-family design concept is for two towers on the Manhattan waterfront, joined towards the top and bottom.

images courtesy of Humphreys & Partners Architects

The evocative renders remind me of MahaNakhon skyscraper in Bangkok, Thailand, by architect Ole Scheeren, OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture).

image © OMA/Ole Scheeren 2009

Geographically closer, the pixelllated design also reminds me of 56 Leonard Street Manhattan skyscraper building in Tribeca designed by celebrated Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron with sculptor/artist Anish Kapoor:

image courtesy of architects

This sustainable mixed-use project is thoughtfully designed with modular and micro units, co-working spaces and every amenity a futuristic apartment dweller needs to thrive: artificial intelligence, drones, home automation, autonomous vehicles, and a variety of activity and wellness centers.

According to architects Humphreys & Partners Pier 2 is the “innovative solution to the growing changes in people’s lifestyle and inclusion of technology”.

BASE

Transportation is evolving, with major changes in commuting and pleasure trips. Autonomous transportation will soon become a reality. Elon Musk’s Hyperloop is due to whisk people from New York to Washington D.C. in 30 minutes from 2012. Self-driving vehicles, flying cars, and artificial intelligent drones (in Dubai as ‘taxis for the rich’) are already being tested. Thus Humphreys & Partners have formed an accommodating site plan, backed up by automated parking systems, full-service bike stations and energy-generating walkways.

The way people shop and seek entertainment is also rapidly changing. Pier 2’s ground level retail space will be outfitted with an Amazon Go store with cashier-less, smart shopping capabilities. Park and recreational areas overlooking the Hudson River will have special facial recognition technology for more engaging interactive displays and connectedness.

PLATFORMS

Two platforms at a lower and upper concourse connect both towers and house the amenities which host a variety of residential services such as a pet spa, pool area, fitness and wellness centers, restaurants, drone landing areas and more. Horizontal and vertical elevators will run back and forth within the lower platform, adding a sense of ease and quickness never before seen in a multifamily concept.

TOWER

Pier 2’s distinctive profile is the result of modular design. Each unit is pre-constructed and shipped to the site. This allows for exceptional quality, one third of the typical construction time, and cost savings that goes back to the consumer at 10 to 20 percent. It also adds more flexibility of design and additional energy efficiency.

The driving force behind Pier 2’s living experience is the co-habitational concept. Although residents can choose to live alone, they can also share a co-living space which generates a unique, community feel. This growing segment is better suited to the urban lifestyle and roommates can not only split the responsibilities but also cut living expenses in half.

Thanks to the rise of the gig economy, co-working spaces will be located at the lower levels. Already a thriving way to work, the majority of entrepreneurs and off-site employees say they felt more successful and were able to better expand their networks which increased over happiness by 89 percent after using co-working spaces.

SUSTAINABILITY

The goal of Pier 2 is to economically build comfortable and functional residences. Units will use Photovoltaic glass, a dynamic window option that saves electrical consumption in the summer and winter by up to 34 percent. Wind turbines churn under the upper platform and create energy for homes that also decrease the building’s carbon footprint. Other energy efficient sources include solar panels, Tesla energy via Powerwall, tidal power using the Hudson River currents and organic vertical farming for food production. On the exterior, green walls add a distinctive natural element and help to clean the air while providing wildlife habitats and increase real estate values.

Forward thinking and integrating the latest technology into multifamily projects is the priority for Humphreys and Partners.

It saves clients time and money – by reducing building retrofits – and keeps the market competitive by attracting target renters and buyers.

It’s not about 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.

Website: Pier 2: Apartment of the Future

Location: Pier 2, New York City, USA