| From the submission |

Growing up in Bangladesh, I was surrounded by lively, informal social spaces. Rooftops, courtyards, front steps, narrow alleys, the road outside the house, even neighborhood tea stalls, were all places where people naturally came together. These spaces weren’t designed with grand intentions but they became the backdrop of daily life, where neighbors would chat, celebrate, argue and laugh. It was an everyday interaction, effortless and organic.

When I moved to the United States, I immediately felt a shift. Even though the cities are densely populated, something felt missing that people seemed more isolated and the built environment didn’t invite the same kind of casual encounters. Shared spaces like corridors or courtyards often felt empty, disconnected or even avoided. I started to ask myself: what changed? How did architecture which once encouraged community, start to create distance instead?

Housing doesn’t just provide shelter, it shapes how people live together. It affects not only physical comfort but also emotional connection and community well-being. For this studio project, I chose to work with the East Harlem River Houses in Manhattan. Built in the early 20th century by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), this housing complex followed the “tower-in-the-park” model, influenced by Le Corbusier’s modernist planning ideals. While the buildings are surrounded by open green space, much of it feels unused and disconnected. These voids were meant to offer relief and access to nature but instead, they lack clear function and resident ownership. Over time, the development has suffered from social isolation, outdated infrastructure and underused public space. It became clear that this place needed to be reimagined, not just physically but socially.

The goal of my design is to reconnect the East Harlem River Houses with the Harlem River by introducing a more vibrant, connected urban realm. I focused on turning passive, unused areas into active, shared community spaces. One of the design intentions was to introduce extended balconies by retrofitting the existing residential blocks. These balconies serve as semi-private zones which is a kind of in-between space that encourage interaction between the inside and the outside. From there, the balconies connect visually and physically to a series of courtyards and public nodes across the site.

I also proposed a new housing block with units of varying sizes to meet different household needs. The layout is based on an open, walkable grid with internal pathways and pockets of shared spaces which are designed to naturally pull residents out of their homes and into the community. On the east side of the site, I introduced multi-level pocket spaces as part of the new housing, offering outdoor areas where people can gather, rest, play or simply spend time in the open air.

At the heart of the site, a raised urban platform which I named “Evolution Platform” links key spaces across the development. This platform isn’t just a physical connection, it’s a cultural one. It weaves together everyday and special uses: basketball courts, public plazas, performance spaces, sculpture gardens, libraries, art galleries and small retail kiosks selling food, books or handmade crafts. These are spaces where children can play after school, neighbors can gather for evening walks, families can celebrate festivals or strangers might strike up a conversation.

Ultimately, the project is about bringing people together across cultures, generations and backgrounds. I wanted to design spaces that feel warm, welcoming and familiar where community can grow naturally, the way I remember from my childhood.

In any context, homes are more than structures. They hold stories, traditions and relationships passed down through generations. Retrofitting older housing isn’t just about updating materials, it’s about preserving that shared spirit while adapting to contemporary needs. If done thoughtfully, this approach can serve as a model for other places facing similar challenges. It’s a way of honoring where we come from, while designing for where we’re going.