Fluid Branching

The programmed adaptive reuse strategy creates house units interlocked and positioned in response to a fluid branching facade. Regarding the facade strategy, the elevation keeps parts of the original window frames and bricks from the old Corbin Building. New building parts slightly protrude and climb to the roof like branches of plants. The protruding parts serve as balconies that connect with the house units. Therefore, house unit distribution follows the logic of facade, staggering together layer by layer. Moreover, The old brick material contacts the modern internal space language to give a sense of comparison and dialog.

The Corbin Building has a massive daily flow in the New York Financial District. Next to it is the Fulton Center, which is a big shopping mall and transportation hub. The building has four entrances: the connection passage to Fulton Center, two long elevation facade entrances, and short facade entrances. The project’s public common space is the gallery, located separately on the ground floor and upper floors, behind the big window frame. A gallery can create multiple experiences when connecting two buildings. It illuminates residents and attracts customers to explore the area’s cultural atmosphere simultaneously. Consequently, people here could have a fluid culture and commercial experience with limited space.