GOWANUS
Enhancing Livability Through Urban Design
Justin Romeo Matthias Neill
Context
Midtown 45 Mins
Downtown 30 Mins
1 Mile
Downtown Brooklyn 15 Mins
Commercial Residential Industrial Green Space Community Facility Mixed Use Transport Parking
0.25 Miles
Context Canal surrounded by farmland in 1840’s Canal upgraded in 1849 to full scale industrial canal
Long term pollution from heavy industrial activity
Context
Issues
Red Hook Park 15 Mins
Prospect Park 30 Mins
Distance to Green Space Lack of Canal Access & Activity Canal Pollution
Inspirations for Improvement
Active & Accessible Canal Regent’s Canal, London Riverwalk, Chicago Cheonggyecheon, Seoul
Public Seating Riverwalk, Chicago
‘Naturalized’ Space
Goals for Gowanus Neighborhood Revitalization
Canal Improvement Strategies
Strategies
• Enhance Accessibility • Increase Activity • Address Pollution
• Allow for a variety of development • Provide attractive features to anchor the neighborhood • Preserve and integrate existing industrial character PHASING!!!!
Outcomes
Outcomes
• Accessible, continuous pedestrian-oriented waterfront • Lively public spaces • Attractive pedestrian realm • ‘Renaturalized’ water body
• • • •
More dense, mixed-use community New residents New businesses Desitnation Gowanus
Concept
Design Methodology Existing Street Heirarchy
0.25 Miles
Design Methodology Missing Connections
0.25 Miles
Design Methodology Future Pedestrian Canal Route
0.25 Miles
Proposal
Pedestrianized Canal & New Development
Proposal
Adding A Mixture of Uses & Activities to Gowanus
Renovated Building Community Facility Swimming Pool Residential Flexible Space Commercial/Office Green Space Site Boundary
Pedestrian Network
Cross Canal Connections
Expansive Pedestrian Realm
Both Sides of the Canal
Green Space Concept
Entry/Exit Space
Large Multi-Use Parks
Small Squares & Plazas
Entry/Exit Space
Urban Form
Urban Form
Canal Pathway Details 2
10’ - 1 Story
1
8' 7' 6'
60'
100'
24'
Current
1
30'
10’ - 1 Story
50’ - 5 Stories 8' 7'
100'
30' - 3 Stories
30'
6'
60'
100'
24' 8'
Future
7' 6'
6' 5'
30'
100'
24' 50’ - 5 Stories
30' - 3 Stories
8' 7' 6'
6' 30'
100'
6'
24'
5'
30'
100'
24'
Canal Pathway Details Cement Works
2
1
Car Lot Cement Barge 7' 6'
Cement Works 20'
30'
Cement Barge
100'
Current
30'
Car Lot
7'
2
6' 20'
30'
100'
30'
Future 7' 6' 24'
24' 100'
30'
30'
7' 6' 24'
30' 100' 30'
30'
24' 100'
30'
Pedestrian Experience
Pedestrian Experience
Pedestrian Experience
Phase 1 3rd Street Entrance & Basin Pool
Phase 2 2nd Basin, Large Parks, & Additional Southern Development
Phase 3 Path & Green Space Completion, Additional Southern Development
Phase 4 Full Development Completion
Final Vision
Final Vision