Cogen House represents one possible means of re-imagining living, working and social spaces in the nation’s most expensive housing markets. Cogen House derives its name from the word cogeneration; defined as the generation of two forms of energy simultaneously. Cogen House aggregates multiple uses into a single typology to foment cultural and economic “energy” simultaneously. The project rests on several underlying suppositions. One, that housing is more price elastic for Cogen House’s target market of young entrepreneurs, students and aspiring or nascent professionals. Two, the target market as a whole, consumes and demands significantly less living space than the larger market. Three, that the target market is willing to compromise large amounts of space and —to a certain extent—privacy in exchange for increased opportunities for informal encounters and socializing with likeminded individuals.

 

          The project sought to redevelop a one-story 22,800 square foot, former industrial building in Brooklyn’s up-and-coming Red Hook neighborhood. Cogen House’s proposed configuration will feature the architectural character and whole portions of the existing building. The project will expand the existing condition to 37,620 square feet at FAR 1.6 with portions of the development as high as three stories. Cogen House consists of two buildings. The larger, three-story 22,100 square foot building includes thirty-three 230 square foot single dwelling units, eight 330 square foot units, shared bathrooms, a shared kitchen and recreation room. The second, two-story 15,520 square foot building includes twelve 900 square foot live/work units and one restaurant/bar unit at ground level.