Prospect Plaza is a 138 unit complex comprised of 20 structures featuring walk-up four story townhouse rental apartments in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn. Immediately adjacent and contiguous to this complex, a HOPE VI project will be undertaken, bringing together a 3 block area that presently includes 4 existing 15 story highrise structures. Under the auspices of the New York City Housing Authority, an RFP was issued to engage architects and developers to submit proposals for the renovation, demolition, and new construction for over 600 new residences in an environment that will bring back neighborhood qualities.
In the urban design, we saw a remarkable opportunity to bring the block structure together which would permit the rehabilitated towers to coexist. We proposed cutting portions of the towers down to 10 stories to mediate the remaining 15 story portion with a new 6 story mid-rise building and the ultimate 4 story townhouses. Gateways are created by emphasizing architectural elements at the corners of each block where the streets intersect.
A new pedestrian walkway would become the spine linking all three blocks thus connecting the northernmost tower with a proposed community center and open space park to the south.
In the urban design, we saw a remarkable opportunity to bring the block structure together which would permit the rehabilitated towers to coexist. We proposed cutting portions of the towers down to 10 stories to mediate the remaining 15 story portion with a new 6 story mid-rise building and the ultimate 4 story townhouses. Gateways are created by emphasizing architectural elements at the corners of each block where the streets intersect.
A new pedestrian walkway would become the spine linking all three blocks thus connecting the northernmost tower with a proposed community center and open space park to the south.
