“Light is the language of space.”
— Tadao Ando

Light establishes the character of Residence 5FL. Windows along the perimeter admit daylight that moves across the apartment over the course of the day, defining the rooms through shadow, contrast, and scale rather than ornament. The effect is quiet and measured, allowing the layout itself to remain legible and purposeful.

Austin Street has long functioned as the principal commercial corridor of Forest Hills, often compared to Fifth Avenue for its role within the neighborhood. Its early 20th-century development was closely tied to the planning of Forest Hills as a suburban community, shaped by new transit connections and a growing commercial district that served residents of Queens and beyond.

Michelle Towers is located directly on Austin Street, situating Residence 5FL within this established historical context. The apartment is a two-bedroom, one-bath apartment arranged on a clear and efficient plan. An intimate eat-in kitchen, a layout historically associated with practical residential design, provides a defined space for daily living apart from the main living areas.

Set along Austin Street, the apartment reflects a long-standing relationship between residential life and commerce that has defined Forest Hills for more than a century.

The building’s proximity to the E and F express lines, as well as local subway service, reflects the same early planning principles that linked Forest Hills’ residential character to efficient transit access and the broader city beyond.