2025 | Professional

MUSE Design Awards Silver Winner

Sanctuary Grid Housing

Entrant Company

Sixuan Chen, Zihe Ye, Jingyu Zhang, Jiafeng Li, Jiaying Qu

Category

Architectural Design - Apartments

Client's Name

Country / Region

United States

Sanctuary Grid Housing is a multi-family residential development in the South Bronx that transforms underutilized urban spaces into shared communal areas. By reclaiming interstitial sites, the project creates protected spaces for childcare and community well-being, fostering a sense of connection and security in a dense city environment.

The development offers a diverse range of housing options, including micro-units, 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom apartments, and co-living configurations. Unit sizes range from 250 to 4,600 square feet, providing flexibility for individuals, families, and shared living arrangements. This mix of housing types ensures accessibility and adaptability for a wide range of residents, promoting inclusivity within the community.

A key feature of Sanctuary Grid Housing is its use of prefabricated modular concrete façade units, which streamline construction by allowing large sections to be manufactured off-site and assembled on-site. This approach reduces labor costs, minimizes material waste, and accelerates build times, ensuring a more efficient and cost-effective development process. The modular design also enhances scalability and long-term maintenance, while its durable and thermally efficient materials help reduce energy consumption.

Beyond efficiency, the project prioritizes livability by integrating communal areas within the building’s footprint, offering safe and flexible spaces for families to gather, children to play, and neighbors to connect. These shared environments encourage social interaction and create a stronger sense of belonging among residents.

By combining smart, adaptable design with community-focused planning, Sanctuary Grid Housing provides a practical and sustainable housing model that supports urban families and individuals while making the most of the city’s existing spaces.



Credits

Zihe Ye
Sixuan Chen
Jingyu Zhang
Jiafeng Li
Jiaying Qu
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