Downtown Brooklyn Public Realm

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES

2019

CLIENT

Downtown Brooklyn Partnership

TYPOLOGY

Public Realm, Urbanism

STATUS

IDEA

Downtown Brooklyn is a uniquely multifaceted 240-acre central business district. Since the 2004 rezoning Downtown Brooklyn has experienced enormous growth with 30% population increase (45,000 new residents) and 26% job growth. The area remains one of the busiest retail districts in New York City and is experiencing a boom in residential development.

Since early 2019, BIG’s Landscape team and WXY Architects have co-led the The Downtown Brooklyn Public Realm Action Plan which draws upon the District’s existing conditions, systems, land uses and policies to create a bold design vision that is uniquely Brooklyn, provides a greener, safer pedestrian and bicycle experience, and unlocks projects, initiatives and pilots for a more vibrant public realm largely focused on the pedestrian experience.

EXPANDED SIDEWALK — By optimizing the movement network it is possible to expand the existing sidewalks to gain more space for pedestrians.

SOFTENED SIDEWALK — By smoothing the corners and removing curbs in potential shared streets, the sidewalks become a place to gather rather than just a walkway.

SHARED STREET — The sidewalk characters overlap in the shared streets, where the removal of curbs allows the softened edges to extend across the roadway.

BUS LANE — Along Fulton Mall, the sidewalk pattern extends over the road to define the bike and bus lanes.

ICONIC CROSSWALK — At major street intersections, the sidewalk expands into the road and defines the larger, iconic crossings.

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Inspired by European cities with fully pedestrianized streets and the Danish approach to greenery and sustainability, the vision reduces parking wherever possible to find room for larger tree canopies and flowering planters to create shade and a comfortable microclimate, reducing urban heat islands.

BEFORE

AFTER

RAIN GARDENS

POLLINATORS

RAISED PLANTING

NARROW SIDEWALK

GREEN WALL

BIOSWALE

EXTENDED SIDEWALK

The colorful and playful character is borrowed from graffiti and street art rooted in the history of Brooklyn, defining its unique identity. The proposal can be implemented in several alleyways and low trafficked local streets that can be transformed into shared streets or fully pedestrianized streets.

By reshaping the sidewalk curbs and changing the ground treatment into a colorful “carpet”, Downtown Brooklyn Public realm is re-animated into a playful environment.

Over time, the streets will be filled with furniture, planting and murals, creating a place where residents, workers and visitors can enjoy gathering outdoors, practice sports and play, celebrate the diverse culture of Downtown Brooklyn.

BIG and WXY’s vision paints the already lively character of the neighborhood with a distinct color palette offering Brooklynites a cohesive streetscape experience with improved walkability, increased pedestrian and cyclist safety, twice as much greenery and new art beacons.

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Bjarke Ingels Daniel Sundlin Martin Voelkle Erik Kreider Jacob Karasik Jamie Maslyn Larson Kate Cella Ken Chongsuwat Mackenzie Keith Veronica Acosta Melissa Jones Morgan Mangelsen Paul Clemens Bart Terrence Chew Tracy Sodder Yi Lun Yang Jeffrey Shumaker Benson Chien Carson Fisk-Vittori Fernando Longhi Pereira da Silva Manon Otto Mo Li Sijia Zhou Sophie Elias Giulia Frittoli