Made in Brooklyn
Made in Brooklyn
WHAT IF THE GOWANUS CANAL WERE REPOSITIONED AS A NEW M-DISTRICT : HOME TO BROOKLYN’S FIRSTLIVE/WORK INNOVATION HUB?
Lightweight Manufacturing Districts were historically intended to insulate residential communities from the nuisance and environmental impact associated with Heavy Manufacturing practices. Cleaner manufacturing technologies and a new definition of industrial have relieved the stigma and the environmental issues historically associated with the M-Zone.
Formerly a hub for Brooklyn’s maritime and commercial shipping activity, industry in the Gowanus Canal has shifted focus. The Canal sits at the terminus of a series of dead end streets sandwiched between two vibrant neighborhoods – Park Slope to the East, and Carroll Gardens to the West. By establishing new East/West bridges over the Gowanus Canal, we propose knitting together the major thoroughfares of Park Slope and Carroll Gardens, bridging these two neighborhoods with new commercial spines.
In addition to providing avenues for traffic and pedestrians, these bridges have densely layered program that reflects a new mix of manufacturing, commercial, retail, and residential uses: a new live/work industrial center.
Urban Proposal: Finalist, 2011 Gowanus Lowline Competition