Second Life: Line and Mat / New York
MODU
Urban Revitalization
2019
To date, the Second Life initiative has developed two
mini-building types – the Line and the Mat – each of which is suited to an
existing building scale. The interim program for each of the mini-buildings is
identified based on the needs of the local community and is designed to
transition into long-term occupancy after an initial 3- to 5-year revitalization
period. Once a property has been acquired, the mini-buildings within are
dissembled and transported to the next site in need.
Collaborators: Department for Small Interventions for Newburgh, NY sites
Awards: Winner, 2019 Emerging Voices Award
Line Mini-building
The Line is
a freestanding mini-building that was developed for the Second Life initiative.
It allows for the creation of work and community spaces within vast, vacant spaces
— such as formerly industrial, infrastructural, or civic buildings — without
requiring extensive renovations of the entire structure.
Unlike typical interim solutions-- such as storage
containers-- which compartmentalize space without the possibility of growth, the Line activates the surrounding
areas in the vacant
building. It is a raised, open-air platform that is
supported by a modular frame and wrapped
in mesh screens. The platform is
passively cooled in warm months and partially climatized with radiant ceilings
and thermal curtains in cold months. The mesh supports the growth of climbing
plants, which create a healthy environment within the Line. Similarly, mesh canopies extend from the roofline, providing opportunities
for larger, more collective gatherings to develop beyond the Line.
The Mat is an innovative approach to vacant homes and
developed as part of the Second Life initiative. It allows users to
convert formerly residential — and thus smaller — buildings with inadequate
structural integrity into dynamic spaces for local businesses and community
organizations. The approach defines building elements that are permanent and
those that are designed for interim use.
The open floor framing system consists of modular wood
components, which streamline the construction process, minimize costs and
reduce the need for skilled labor. This open framework stabilizes the existing structure
while supporting open-air rooms. The rooms are enclosed in visually permeable
mesh screens and are semi-climatized with radiant floors and thermal curtains. Since
they are suspended from the frame, the entire building footprint below remains
accessible for gatherings of all sizes. Once permanent occupancy has been
established, the rooms can be readily uninstalled while leaving the floor
framing system intact for the new owner.
Mat Mini-building
Project Team: Phu Hoang, Rachely Rotem, Jiri Vala, Zhenwei Zhong, Shu Du
Credits: Silman (Structural), TransSolar (Climate Engineering)