Repurposing the Gowanus Expressway

This project explores how cities shaped by automobile infrastructure can be reimagined around people rather than vehicles. Focusing on a residential neighborhood along the Gowanus Expressway in Brooklyn—where a 20-foot-deep highway trench divided a once vibrant community—the proposal investigates how the corridor could be transformed from a barrier into a connective urban space. By prioritizing walking, cycling, public transportation, and new housing opportunities, the project envisions repairing the neighborhood’s severed urban fabric while creating spaces that encourage social interaction, safety, and environmental sustainability. In doing so, the project embodies the spirit of Brooklyn NOW! by demonstrating how contemporary design thinking can confront the legacy of car-centered planning and reimagine Brooklyn’s streets and public spaces as places for people, community, and everyday urban life.