Domino Sugar Factory
SHoP architects took over the design of the Domino Sugar Factory from Rafael Vinoly. This was much to the relief of many in the area who understandably disliked Vinoly’s plans for the site. SHoP changed the plan substantially by increasing the size of the waterfront park and redistributing the mass through the design of taller buildings. The redesigns also included the provision of affordable housing, the original scheme did not.
Phase 1 is now delivered and includes the park and first building on Kent Avenue. The buildings are designed as mega donuts with large central wholes designed to let light and views penetrate into the lower lying neighbourhood of Williamsburg to the rear. The building is clad in perforated copper and zin panels and is a welcome relief from the usual glass and aluminium clad residential towers in the city.
The park is an incredible new public space for this part of Brooklyn, opening up direct access to East River and creating a new promenade. DominoPark has been delivered early in the project much to the joy of nearby residents who are already making good use of the park. The design of the park is done by James Corner Field Operations, of High Line fame and is very high quality, fun and inviting. The park includes a delightful playground themed on industrial equipment, a taco restaurant, dog walking and many places to lounge and enjoy the beautiful Manhattan skyline. There are many playful elements to the design of the park that reuse the industrial heritage of the site like the cylindrical syrup tanks, building columns and crane tracks.
The total development will include 700 affordable homes. So far, phase 1 has delivered 104. Affordable housing is delivered through mandatory zoning regulations that require 20% of rezoned areas to be affordable. There are different affordable bands based on average mean income. Symptomatic of the affordability crisis in New York at the moment, there were an unbelievable 87,000 applications for the 104 units. The homes were allocated through a lottery system.
Some pictures below of the development so far, caught in evening autumnal light.
