The Intergenerational Commons Primärfunktioun: Wunnen by Yi Lu

The Intergenerational Commons Primärfunktioun: Wunnen by Yi Lu is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award an Bronze in Architektur, Gebai an Strukturdesign Competition Category.

BronzeArchitektur· 2026

The Intergenerational Commons Primärfunktioun: Wunnen

by Yi Lu

Client: Yi Lu

A' Design Award an Bronze Winner in Architektur Category

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The Design

About The Intergenerational Commons Primärfunktioun: Wunnen

Buchtext: Dëse Wunnrenovéierungsprojet definéiert Stuyvesant Town nei als zäitgenëssescht Modell fir generatiounsübergräifend Wunnen. Duerch adaptiv Ëmnotzung gëtt aus dem al gewuessene Superblock e vielschichtegt Wunnökosystem. E revitaliséierten Podium integréiert Seniorebildung an alldeeglechen Austausch, während Duechkinnergäert d'Generatiounen an direkter Nopeschschaft nees zesummebréngen. Terrassen a Gäert mëlleren déi steife Kanten of, verwandelen d'Dicht an eng sozial Infrastruktur an etabléieren e widerstandsfäegt Paradigma fir dat zukünftegt urbaant Liewen.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award an Bronze

The Intergenerational Commons Primärfunktioun: Wunnen ass e Gewënner vum A' Design Award an Bronze, enger héich prestigiéiser Unerkennung, déi un erausragend Designe vergi gëtt, déi sech duerch Kreativitéit, Erfindungsgab a Schlauheet ausgezeechnen. Bronze-Gewënner si voll Fäegkeet a opfälleg kreativ Wierker, déi déi grouss Erfahrung, d'Fantasie an d'Ressourceréichtum vun hire Designer bestätegen. Et gëtt erwaart, datt The Intergenerational Commons Primärfunktioun: Wunnen e héich geschätzt, bewonnert a beléifte Géigestand ass, bemierkenswäert professionell an innovativ. Dëst mam Bronze ausgezeechent Design integréiert déi beschte Praktike vun der Konscht, der Wëssenschaft, vum Design an der Technologie an zeechent sech duerch Opmierksamkeet fir Detailer aus. The Intergenerational Commons Primärfunktioun: Wunnen erfëllt Bedierfnesser exzellent, beréiert Wënsch, bezauberet Gefiller an erweckt Neigierecht.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Memento (the Intergenerational Commons) redefines Stuyvesant Town as a contemporary model for intergenerational housing. Through adaptive reuse, the aging superblock becomes a layered residential ecosystem. A revitalized podium integrates senior learning and daily exchange, while rooftop kindergartens reconnect generations in close proximity. Terraces and gardens soften rigid edges, transforming density into social infrastructure and establishing a resilient paradigm for future urban living.
Dimensions & Packaging: Primary structure: steel frame with brick infill façade; residential use retained for approx. 75–85% of floor area.
Public conversion zones: ground-level 1,200 m² community hub + stacked shared terraces (3,600 mm depth).
Modular additions: 3,600 mm bays; lightweight steel framing; reversible connections; green roof system 300 mm.
Tags: Affordable housing retrofit, residential transformation, adaptive reuse, vertical commons, community spine, aging-friendly housing, intergenerational support, low-disruption renovation, scalable urban model
Production Technology: The project preserves the majority of the building as housing while surgically converting select zones into shared social infrastructure. Using a low-disruption retrofit strategy—steel reinforcement, reversible insertions, bolt-on terraces, and prefabricated community modules—the design creates continuous vertical and horizontal commons within the existing brick shell. A standardized kit-of-parts system ensures cost control, phased construction, and replicability for aging urban housing stock.
Design Challenge: The key challenge was transforming an aging residential structure without undermining its primary housing function. Structural constraints, code compliance, budget limits, and resident continuity required precision. The design had to introduce meaningful public space through minimal intervention—balancing density, safety, affordability, and social impact within an existing steel-and-brick framework.
Research: Type of Research: Applied design research.
Research Objectives: Develop a scalable model for renewing aging residential buildings through limited yet high-impact spatial conversion.
Methodology: Adaptive reuse, program layering, and vertical/horizontal commons integration.
Data/Tools: Demographic aging data, precedent analysis, BIM coordination, daylight, and circulation simulations.
Participants: Multi-generational residential case studies.
Results: Increased shared access and daily proximity.
Insights/Impacts: Strengthens intergenerational support networks and offers a replicable pathway for affordable urban housing renewal.
Inspiration: The project was inspired by the growing social fragmentation within high-density housing and the increasing generational separation in contemporary cities. Research on social isolation, aging populations, and child development informed the proposal. The design explores adaptive reuse as a strategy to transform postwar housing into a resilient, layered residential ecosystem that integrates care, learning, and daily life within close spatial proximity.
Project Duration: The project concept was initiated in September 2020 and concluded in January 2022 in New York City, United States. The design proposes a phased, low-cost renewal strategy that maintains residential occupancy while selectively converting underused areas into shared community infrastructure.
Operation Flow: Residents continue everyday living in their homes, while new commons support shared routines. A horizontal community spine activates ground-level life; a vertical network of stairs, lifts, and terraces connects floors into one continuous social landscape. Seniors and children occupy overlapping yet flexible zones, enabling natural encounters and informal care. Interaction remains optional, preserving privacy while strengthening mutual support.
Patents: Copyrights belong to Yi Lu, 2022.
Team Members: Yi Lu
Image Credits: Image #1: Architectural Rendering Yi Lu, Memento: The Intergenerational Commons, 2022.
Image #2: Architectural Rendering Yi Lu, Memento: The Intergenerational Commons, 2022.
Image #3: Architectural Rendering Yi Lu, Memento: The Intergenerational Commons, 2022.
Image #4: Architectural Rendering Yi Lu, Memento: The Intergenerational Commons, 2022.
Image #5: Architectural Rendering Yi Lu, Memento: The Intergenerational Commons, 2022.