daniel gillen reimagines the brooklyn bridge as a living infrastructure

what if new york city’s iconic brooklyn bridge was transformed into a floating borough? that’s exactly what architect daniel gillen proposes with his submission to van alen institute’s ‘reimagining brooklyn bridge’ competition. with a shape inspired by natural landform features found at water edges, ‘the brooklyn bluff’ concept is designed to enhance public connection to nature and foster a new perspective on adaptive reuse projects.

all images courtesy of daniel gillen

developed to provide ongoing flexibility in its usage, the program for this ‘living infrastructure’ contains housing, hotel, cultural, retail, and public functions. through economizing the structure with an inhabitable program, daniel gillen proposes to establish a symbiotic relationship between revenue income and bridge maintenance, ensuring longevity in functionality for the future.

to respect the original design, the proposed architectural addition creates a clear and legible distinction between contemporary and historic. the strength and utility of the brooklyn bridge is balanced with a progressive approach to architecture, evaluating a multitude of factors including social conditions, fiscal longevity, and safety. a large public park balances the private economic incentives for the site. project designer, daniel gillen notes, ‘the topic of sustainability cannot be limited to environmental and social considerations alone, but could aim to recalibrate private profits towards the financial sustainability of public systems’.

through this proposal, the public is encouraged to acknowledge that the future is both literally and figuratively ‘supported’ by the past and the symbiotic relationship between the two. as bold and ambitious as the original bridge, the ‘brooklyn bluff’ leverages the original structure by embracing the pier, while the cable structure supports the cantilevered span in equilibrium. one element is grounded in history while the other is reaching toward the future, establishing a contemporary infrastructure typology.

‘humanity is clearly needing more from our cities and public spaces. an equitable system that prioritizes the needs of the many over the few. architecture has a responsibility to facilitate this action’, says daniel gillen.

project info:

project name: the brooklyn bluff

competition: reimagining brooklyn bridge

size: 450,000 sq. feet

year: 2020

team:

daniel gillen AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, lead designer
daniel sesil P.E., C.E., S.E., structural engineer
antonio rodriguez P.E., structural engineer
austin devin P.E., structural engineer
kaiyue zhou leed AP BD+C, architectural designer
tian ouyang assoc AIA, architectural designer
kais al rawi AIA, facade engineer
todd schechinger PLA, landscape designer

consultants:

structural engineer: LERA

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom