VIDEO: NYC’s first micro apartment building is almost ready to open

The Big Apple has been buzzing about small living ever since <a href="http://narchitects.com/">nARCHITECTS</a> and <a href="http://monadnockdevelopment.com/">Monadnock Development</a> won the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/bloomberg-announces-winners-of-the-adapt-nyc-competition-to-develop-micro-unit-dwellings/">adAPT NYC competition</a> to design the city's first official micro apartment building <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/bloomberg-announces-winners-of-the-adapt-nyc-competition-to-develop-micro-unit-dwellings/">back in 2013</a>. Now the experimental new building at <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/index.php?s=carmel+place">Carmel Place</a> in Manhattan's Kips Bay is nearing completion, and Inhabitat recently got a sneak peek at some of the innovative and space-saving features inside. Flip through our photo gallery or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWfR3zS-x9E">watch our video</a> after the jump to take a virtual tour of one of the model apartments and see if you could imagine yourself living in this new paradigm of sustainable and efficient dwelling in NYC.

The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/nycs-first-prefab-micro-unit-apartment-building-begins-to-rise-in-manhattan-photos/" target="_blank">first building of its kind in all of New York City</a>, Carmel Place is a 55-unit structure built as part of a pilot project launched by the NYC Department of Housing Preservation &amp; Development to try and address the city's demand for affordable single- and double- occupant dwellings.

Residences at the development range from 250 to 370 square feet in size, with <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/take-a-video-tour-of-nycs-first-micro-unit-building-with-apartments-starting-at-950-a-month/">rents starting at just $950 a month</a> (for lower income residents). 40 percent of the 55 apartments in the building have been set aside as affordable housing. Market-rate studios will start at $2,000 per month.

"The building is conceived of as four micro towers starting with a white brick going to a black brick, sort of four shades of grey," said Eric Bunge, a principal at <a href="http://narchitects.com/">nARCHITECTS</a>. "We really wanted the design to represent the vibrant community so we designed it so that you conceive the building as a kind of microcosm of the city or micro skyline."

While those micro towers do look awfully slender, don't be fooled by the building's modest footprint. What these tiny apartments lack in square footage, they make up for with ultra-functionality, smart design and amenities like a rooftop terrace and lounge, an entertainment room, and a sunlight-soaked gym that faces out onto a tree-lined path. And thanks to <a href="http://www.ollie.co/">Ollie</a>, a service that curates "all-inclusive living experiences" by providing hotel-style conveniences, the rent will also include cable, wireless internet, <a href="https://www.helloalfred.com/our-story">Hello Alfred</a> (an app-based home manager), and even housekeeping. Some apartments in the building will also come partially furnished with furniture from <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/index.php?s=resource+furniture">Resource Furniture</a>.

The modern, clean-lined kitchens feature cabinetry made in Italy, stainless steel appliances and Hansgrohe fixtures.

The unique structure, located at 335 E 27th Street, is made up of modular pods that were prefabricated at the <a href="http://brooklynnavyyard.org/">Brooklyn Navy Yard</a> and then shipped to the site, saving money, time and energy. Once they arrived at Kips Bay, stacking the modules to create the tower took about 3.5 weeks. In addition to its inherently sustainable design that encourages population density, efficient living and usage of public transportation, Carmel Place is also targeting LEED Silver certification.

Worried about storage? No need, thanks to the spacious storage lofts that make use of vertical space in the apartment entryways. "You can even fit a full-length surfboard in there," Bunge told us.

The furniture suite includes a built-in wall system with a sofa that transforms into a bed, as well as a slim-profile desk that extends out to become a dining table that can seat up to ten people. The furnished residences will also come with two oak chairs, a coffee table that changes height to become a work surface, a wall-mounted LED TV, a full-length mirror, window coverings and a Pablo Pixo flexible chargeable LED lamp.

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8-ft windows and 10-ft ceilings give the units an open and airy feeling, and maximize daylighting for reduced energy usage. Select apartments also have Juliette balconies.