Mike Eliason
@holz-bau.bsky.social
climate adaptive housing developer
activist for: car-light climate forward cities w/ low carbon + passivhaus buildings, social housing
Author, 'Building for People' (Island Press, 12/2024: https://islandpress.org/books/building-people)
activist for: car-light climate forward cities w/ low carbon + passivhaus buildings, social housing
Author, 'Building for People' (Island Press, 12/2024: https://islandpress.org/books/building-people)
50' dead end corridor allows for situations worse than single stair
November 22, 2025 at 5:37 PM
50' dead end corridor allows for situations worse than single stair
the apartments on the left are over 1/2 a mile just to the sidewalk entry to the light rail... it's just preposterous.
November 21, 2025 at 11:26 PM
the apartments on the left are over 1/2 a mile just to the sidewalk entry to the light rail... it's just preposterous.
like... it's not just that we have more bathrooms and fixtures per unit - but we also have more penetrations for fixture.
significantly more cost, embodied carbon, fireproofing,maintenance, etc...
we then have to spend more hiding or maintaining it. sprinklers, etc.
significantly more cost, embodied carbon, fireproofing,maintenance, etc...
we then have to spend more hiding or maintaining it. sprinklers, etc.
November 21, 2025 at 8:23 PM
like... it's not just that we have more bathrooms and fixtures per unit - but we also have more penetrations for fixture.
significantly more cost, embodied carbon, fireproofing,maintenance, etc...
we then have to spend more hiding or maintaining it. sprinklers, etc.
significantly more cost, embodied carbon, fireproofing,maintenance, etc...
we then have to spend more hiding or maintaining it. sprinklers, etc.
ah interesting. thanks.
i'm always amazed on these projects that it's two full bathrooms instead of like one ginormous bathroom that can be cordoned off and used by multiple people. the k/d/l are tiny for a 1020 sf unit
i'm always amazed on these projects that it's two full bathrooms instead of like one ginormous bathroom that can be cordoned off and used by multiple people. the k/d/l are tiny for a 1020 sf unit
November 21, 2025 at 6:56 PM
ah interesting. thanks.
i'm always amazed on these projects that it's two full bathrooms instead of like one ginormous bathroom that can be cordoned off and used by multiple people. the k/d/l are tiny for a 1020 sf unit
i'm always amazed on these projects that it's two full bathrooms instead of like one ginormous bathroom that can be cordoned off and used by multiple people. the k/d/l are tiny for a 1020 sf unit
when you spend 64 hours in NYC
November 21, 2025 at 6:16 PM
when you spend 64 hours in NYC
here's a close up of one of the units to highlight what i mean...
the time of day when direct and indirect sunlight hits this unit is nearly double versus what it would be with single aspect unit set perpendicular to street as normally see
prospects up and down street are also much greater
the time of day when direct and indirect sunlight hits this unit is nearly double versus what it would be with single aspect unit set perpendicular to street as normally see
prospects up and down street are also much greater
November 21, 2025 at 5:28 PM
here's a close up of one of the units to highlight what i mean...
the time of day when direct and indirect sunlight hits this unit is nearly double versus what it would be with single aspect unit set perpendicular to street as normally see
prospects up and down street are also much greater
the time of day when direct and indirect sunlight hits this unit is nearly double versus what it would be with single aspect unit set perpendicular to street as normally see
prospects up and down street are also much greater
here's the plan
note a few things...
1. plan is rotated off the street grid
2. shallow floor plate
3. serrations allow each unit to have daylight/views on at least 2 exposures
this allows quality of life in these homes to be wildly different than the bowling-lane shaped studios we see in seattle
note a few things...
1. plan is rotated off the street grid
2. shallow floor plate
3. serrations allow each unit to have daylight/views on at least 2 exposures
this allows quality of life in these homes to be wildly different than the bowling-lane shaped studios we see in seattle
November 21, 2025 at 5:18 PM
here's the plan
note a few things...
1. plan is rotated off the street grid
2. shallow floor plate
3. serrations allow each unit to have daylight/views on at least 2 exposures
this allows quality of life in these homes to be wildly different than the bowling-lane shaped studios we see in seattle
note a few things...
1. plan is rotated off the street grid
2. shallow floor plate
3. serrations allow each unit to have daylight/views on at least 2 exposures
this allows quality of life in these homes to be wildly different than the bowling-lane shaped studios we see in seattle
on of the projects that SO-IL's molloy presented was their in-process 450 union, a mixed income rental high rise that is sort of a large scale test building on research and theses from previous, smaller and more exclusive projects
i love the serrated facade btw
solidobjectives.com/work/450-uni...
i love the serrated facade btw
solidobjectives.com/work/450-uni...
November 21, 2025 at 5:13 PM
on of the projects that SO-IL's molloy presented was their in-process 450 union, a mixed income rental high rise that is sort of a large scale test building on research and theses from previous, smaller and more exclusive projects
i love the serrated facade btw
solidobjectives.com/work/450-uni...
i love the serrated facade btw
solidobjectives.com/work/450-uni...
'frequency is freedom'
siiigh
siiigh
November 20, 2025 at 11:30 PM
'frequency is freedom'
siiigh
siiigh
oh hey techwood homes - the first public housing project in the US (ATL, 1934) is connected single stair buildings of 2-4 floors.
1-3 BR homes. dual and triple aspect housing. bathrooms & kitchens w/ windows.
connected PAB modules creating bars & u-shaped courtyard bldgs
@stephenjacobsmith.com
1-3 BR homes. dual and triple aspect housing. bathrooms & kitchens w/ windows.
connected PAB modules creating bars & u-shaped courtyard bldgs
@stephenjacobsmith.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:58 PM
oh hey techwood homes - the first public housing project in the US (ATL, 1934) is connected single stair buildings of 2-4 floors.
1-3 BR homes. dual and triple aspect housing. bathrooms & kitchens w/ windows.
connected PAB modules creating bars & u-shaped courtyard bldgs
@stephenjacobsmith.com
1-3 BR homes. dual and triple aspect housing. bathrooms & kitchens w/ windows.
connected PAB modules creating bars & u-shaped courtyard bldgs
@stephenjacobsmith.com
this one is really clever. the slipped rotation allows both bedrooms to have windows in the apartment, and some level of cross ventilation pre-AC.
also note: bathrooms and kitchens have bedrooms. can't say that about most new development
also note: bathrooms and kitchens have bedrooms. can't say that about most new development
November 20, 2025 at 2:41 PM
this one is really clever. the slipped rotation allows both bedrooms to have windows in the apartment, and some level of cross ventilation pre-AC.
also note: bathrooms and kitchens have bedrooms. can't say that about most new development
also note: bathrooms and kitchens have bedrooms. can't say that about most new development
wow so the subway/airtrain to JFK only takes 10 more minutes (assuming don't hit any traffic) *and* it costs 1/8th as much?
and you have to interact with humanity during a rush hour commute? people will even hold subway doors for you?
and you have to interact with humanity during a rush hour commute? people will even hold subway doors for you?
November 20, 2025 at 2:29 PM
wow so the subway/airtrain to JFK only takes 10 more minutes (assuming don't hit any traffic) *and* it costs 1/8th as much?
and you have to interact with humanity during a rush hour commute? people will even hold subway doors for you?
and you have to interact with humanity during a rush hour commute? people will even hold subway doors for you?
so at tonight's single stair and code talk, @stephenjacobsmith.com brought the good stuff. people were floored.
'architects don't design buildings, codes do'
'architects don't design buildings, codes do'
November 20, 2025 at 4:47 AM
so at tonight's single stair and code talk, @stephenjacobsmith.com brought the good stuff. people were floored.
'architects don't design buildings, codes do'
'architects don't design buildings, codes do'
45k steps in 2 days. huh.
November 19, 2025 at 8:59 PM
45k steps in 2 days. huh.
rocks rocks rocks!
November 19, 2025 at 8:35 PM
rocks rocks rocks!
hit all the parks.
the interlocking steel pilings look good in the fall colors
the interlocking steel pilings look good in the fall colors
November 19, 2025 at 8:33 PM
hit all the parks.
the interlocking steel pilings look good in the fall colors
the interlocking steel pilings look good in the fall colors
i wonder if people ever use these balconies?
November 19, 2025 at 8:28 PM
i wonder if people ever use these balconies?
how many people in arch schools incorporated some variation of this bench in their work. i can think of 5 in my graduating class)
November 19, 2025 at 8:27 PM
how many people in arch schools incorporated some variation of this bench in their work. i can think of 5 in my graduating class)
ngl moments of the high line felt very much like wandering around japan. little flourishes of nature right up against a building.
i went right after the rain today so there were very few people on it.
i went right after the rain today so there were very few people on it.
November 19, 2025 at 8:25 PM
ngl moments of the high line felt very much like wandering around japan. little flourishes of nature right up against a building.
i went right after the rain today so there were very few people on it.
i went right after the rain today so there were very few people on it.
does anyone remember little hug fruit drink barrels?
November 19, 2025 at 5:49 PM
does anyone remember little hug fruit drink barrels?
more bollards than people!
November 19, 2025 at 5:25 PM
more bollards than people!
really fancy park tho.
November 19, 2025 at 5:24 PM
really fancy park tho.
it's telling that the only bikes i've seen are food delivery - and there is no place for them to lock up to. oh hey finally a store. oh.
November 19, 2025 at 5:22 PM
it's telling that the only bikes i've seen are food delivery - and there is no place for them to lock up to. oh hey finally a store. oh.