SITU x ADU for You

In response to NYC’s persistent housing affordability challenges, the city government passed the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity zoning amendment in 2024. This major update to the city's zoning code aims to add a little more housing in all neighborhoods through a variety of reforms. At the smallest scale of development, the City of Yes allows for a new housing typology called the Ancillary Dwelling Unit (ADU). Individual homeowners in low density neighborhoods now have an opportunity to create additional housing units in their attics, basements, or backyards, whether to support multigenerational families or to generate much needed additional income.

The ADU typology represents a bottom-up approach to urban development, relying on the distributed agency of individual homeowners that create value locally while maintaining neighborhood character. As an alternative to developer-driven housing construction—which often leads to gentrification and displacement—this incremental form of densification offers a more organic and locally grounded approach. This work follows on SITU’s speculative vision of an ADU-urbanism first explored in 2014 in the Museum of Modern Art’s Uneven Growth exhibition.

In order to promote and facilitate the construction of ADUs, the Mayor’s Office along with the DOB, HPD, WXY Architects, Habitat for Humanity, and KMA launched the ADU for You Initiative. This program aims to provide guidance and tools to make it easier for homeowners to navigate the process of building an ADU on their property. One component of the platform is an online library of ADU designs that have been pre-approved by the Department of Buildings. SITU’s contribution to the plan library is part of the first set of what is envisioned to be an ever expanding public resource.

Using the WikiHouse frame, SITU developed a detached ADU for the narrowest feasible lot size in order to be viable for nearly all ADU-eligible properties across the city. The resulting 280 sq. ft. micro-loft studio apartment measures 14’ wide by 20’ long. The max allowable height of 15’ is fully utilized to provide high ceilings in the living room and a storage loft above the bathroom. The highly efficient studio apartment relies on features like a murphy bed, all-electric appliances, a ship’s ladder and a wet-room bathroom to provide a smart and compact living space ideal for an individual or young couple.