The iconic Brooklyn Bridge re-imagined
A new competition challenged designers to revisit one of New York’s most recognizable landmarks.
The Van Alen Institute, a 126-year-old non profit that uses design to catalyze positive change in cities, has announced the two winners of their Reimagining Brooklyn Bridge design competition to rethink the iconic Brooklyn Bridge walkway.
“Prior to the Covid19 pandemic, at peak hours the promenade was crammed, uncomfortable, and sometimes unsafe,” the Van Alen Institute explains. “Thousands of pedestrians and cyclists crossed the bridge every day. In response to these conditions, the City Council of the City of New York and the Van Alen Institute launched Reimagining Brooklyn Bridge, an international design competition that aims to spark a new public conversation about New York City’s infrastructure.”
The winner in the professional category is titled Brooklyn Bridge Forest, submitted by Pilot Projects, and the young adult category winner is Do Look Down by Shannon Hui at Barnard College, Kwans Kim at the NYU Gallatin School, and Yujin Kim at the NYU Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences.
“As made even more clear by the pandemic, the design of our streets and shared spaces must be responsive to the present moment and work to correct past injustices,” according to Van Alen Institute. “They must foster equitable, accessible, and sustainable transportation options, create a healthy and safe environment for all New Yorkers, and opportunities for small businesses and vendors to flourish.”
The winners of the professional category explain that the Brooklyn Bridge Forest reimagines the bridge as an icon of climate action and social equity, improving mobility while respecting the landmark structure. The historic wooden walkway is expanded using planks sustainably sourced from a “partner forest” community in Guatemala that protects a 200,000-acre rainforest. A dedicated bike path and reclaimed traffic lane create new space for cyclists and low-carbon transit, while biodiverse “microforests” at either end of the bridge bring nature to New York City and serve as green spaces for underserved communities.
Do Look Down’s installation of a glass surface above the bridge’s girders creates a whimsical new pedestrian space activated through art installations and seasonal programming, according to the three winners of the young adult category. The lower roadway is converted into additional walkable and human-powered transport space that also offers opportunities for local vendors and performers. Powered by kinetic paving, an LED and projection system is mobilized to honor the city’s cultures, histories, and identities.
The Van Alen Institute points out that since opening on May 24, 1883, the bridge has taken on near-mythic significance in New York City. Its striking form has captured the imagination of some of the nation’s most prominent artists.
“Its enduring iconographic power makes it one of the most photographed locations in New York. In popular culture, the bridge is a symbol for the city itself, used in countless establishing shots in films and television.”
About Adventures in Preservation (AiP)
Adventures in Preservation (AiP) is a non-profit connecting people and preservation through enriching cultural heritage travel and hands-on education. AiP was founded in 2001 by two women with a great love of historic buildings and a strong desire to travel and understand the world. While perusing the travel section of the Boulder Bookstore, the Volunteer Vacation section suddenly brought everything into focus. Judith Broeker and Jamie Donahoe combined their goal of saving historic buildings with the concept of experiential travel, and created AiP’s hands-on preservation vacations.
Work started on several sites in the U.S., and as word spread, requests for help began to pour in from around the world, underscoring the great potential of using volunteers to restore historic buildings. In supporting community-based preservation initiatives, we discovered that our love of old buildings could translate into environmental and economic sustainability for communities.
AiP is picking up the pace! As our hands-on experiential travel becomes more popular, we have new projects, new partners and initiatives to keep you excited and involved.
