• Courtesy of Pilot Projects Design Collective

    Courtesy of Pilot Projects Design Collective

  • Courtesy of Pilot Projects Design Collective

    Courtesy of Pilot Projects Design Collective

  • Courtesy of Pilot Projects Design Collective

    Courtesy of Pilot Projects Design Collective

  • Courtesy of Pilot Projects Design Collective

    Courtesy of Pilot Projects Design Collective

  • Courtesy of Pilot Projects Design Collective

    Courtesy of Pilot Projects Design Collective

  • Courtesy of Pilot Projects Design Collective

    Courtesy of Pilot Projects Design Collective

  • Courtesy of Pilot Projects Design Collective

    Courtesy of Pilot Projects Design Collective

of

Public Realm

Brooklyn Bridge Forest design wins international competition

Reimagining Brooklyn Bridge International Design Competition winner announced

by Georgina Johnston 17 November 2020 Metal in architecture

Brooklyn Bridge Forest, a design that reimagines the historic Brooklyn Bridge as an icon of climate action and social equity, has been selected as the winner of the Reimagining Brooklyn Bridge competition, an international design challenge presented by Van Alen Institute and the New York City Council. 

The creative brainchild of designer, strategist, and urbanist Scott Francisco, Brooklyn Bridge Forest was inspired by his daily walks across the bridge from Brooklyn to lower Manhattan. Francisco envisioned an opportunity to reimagine the bridge as a way to connect New York City and its residents to forests and natural systems, improve quality of life, and extend the impact of the 137 year old structure as a source of inspiration and a platform for addressing pressing problems that challenge our planet. 

Rooted in more than 10 years of research and activism by Francisco’s Pilot Projects Design Collective, Wildlife Conservation Society, Cities4Forests, Grimshaw Architects, and Silman, Brooklyn Bridge Forest triples the capacity for active transit, brings biodiverse forest and green spaces into the city, and establishes a partnership to conserve an expanse of Central American tropical forest, all while respecting and maintaining the beloved structure. 

The design expands the historic wooden walkway using planks sustainably sourced from a “partner forest,” helping a community in Guatemala protect a 200,000 acre biodiverse rainforest. A new dedicated bike path and reclaimed traffic lanes more than triple the space for active and low carbon transit, while biodiverse micro forests at either end of the bridge bring nature to New York City, and serve as green spaces for underserved communities. Also included in the plan, is an integrated community hub to provide leadership opportunities for youth, centred around the relationship between conservation, diversity, engineering and design. 

The urgency of climate change and challenges like the current COVID-19 pandemic illustrate the critical need for systems thinking locally and globally. We need public spaces and transit options designed to prioritise sustainability, health and equity. This is the time to cocreate infrastructure and culture systems that protect all people and our future. We are energised by this victory for healthier cities and the global environment and look forward to working with a broad array of stakeholders to make this vision for the Brooklyn Bridge a reality.

S. Francisco

Want to submit your project to World Architecture News?

Contact The Team