The Continuity

The site is located on the edge of Brooklyn Greenpoint, as well as in between historical and industrial inlet. Where my design is based off the idea that every sectional move is related to the ground condition, my plan is one continuous maze-like building divided into three sections that each represents a program. The building is also design in this way to give the neighbors to walk in a direction from the history world of brooklyn to the view of industrial world of New York at the same time the connection points of the design is where the most amazing part would be. You enter from the side of Greenpoint where the residential part is located at as well as the more private area that represent the industrial part of Greenpoint with the material that used for this part. Then encounters the first glass box which is used for connecting the residential program to the apparatus bay; the glass box is used as a greenhouse to transfer the warmth into both sides of app bay and residents. On the other side, you will be coming out from the Museum area that lead you to the open outdoor garden which gives you a great scene of Manhattan. The fire station furthermore explains how the design dealt with post-industrial artifacts, as well as dealing with the sustainability. The design purpose is to communicate with the locals and the current conditions of the site, combining the issues together and create its own narrative.

Photo Credit : CJWHO

The People’s Firehouse established by the people for the people boasts its history and tradition. The site for the proposed firehouse located on a prominent corner in the warehouse district on the water addresses the streets of Brooklyn by responding to the extended street grid through the site. The resulting form and spaces take cues from the established grid. The apparatus bay is positioned along the main street, Franklin Street, for quick exit and entry during calls. The office and visitor center are located on the main corner of Franklin and Quay Street adjacent to the apparatus bay. The west side of the building faces Manhattan and Bushwick Inlet Park framing a nice view for the residents of firehouse as well as visitors. The North side of building stacks the program so that the ground level is mainly occupied by the public while the second and third floors are for the firefighters. The third floor is the main residential space with an interior courtyard to allow ample light into the bedroom space and an occupiable green roof for grilling adjacent to the kitchen. A slide is located outside of the bedrooms so that call response time is decreased. The South side of the building houses an abundance of storage with a fitness room located above overlooking the apparatus bay. The spaces utilize an efficient circulation path for decreased call response times as well as easy navigation for public visitors. The materials used in the building consist of glass, steel, and metal sheathing. These materials reflect the surrounding buildings creating a cohesive urban fabric. By addressing the history of Brooklyn through the spaces created within the building and providing large public access areas, the new People’s Firehouse will continue to protect the neighborhood of Greenpoint in Brooklyn, New York, while maintaining its historical identity in the gentrifying scene.

Photo Credit:

de Young Memorial Museum: San Francisco
Architects: Herzog & de Meuron

Our site is located in historical and industrial Brooklyn on the edge of Bushwick Inlet that leads your ideas to a picturesque view of Manhattan. The land has been compromised though, being labeled as a brownfield and should be cleaned and redesigned immediately. My design encompasses both by creating a occupiable area that borders on a constructed wetland that surrounds the inlet. In addition to constructed wetlands, there are foam mounds covered with earth and vegetation with retention pools to help with cleaning, flooring, and water collection. With a focus on community, the complex draws people in with multiple public sections including a park area, kayak launch, and museum. Varying heights and materials such as wood for residential, concrete for public, and core ten for focal points, guide people to public spaces and away from private ones. A focal public space is the hose drying tower that allows pedestrians and the community to ascend the tower to view not only the complex as a whole but also the amazing views surround the sight like Manhattan and industrial Brooklyn. The building itself is made from planes derived from the angular streets that lead to the inlet. Through theses planes, the land is pulled back to create wetlands and a communal area with a publicly and privately segmented building.

Photo Citation:

Photo By: Kongjian Yu
Design By: Turenscape and Peking Univesrity, Beijing