Gowanus Flowlands: A Unique Integration of Wetlands and Urban Design

Revitalizing a Polluted Water Body with Innovative Design

Gowanus Flowlands, designed by Tyler Caine, proposes a groundbreaking integration of wetland systems into a revitalization project for one of the most polluted water bodies in the country. This unique design combines urban and natural systems to create a distinct pedestrian environment that achieves density in harmony with natural habitat and environmental remediation. The integration of a tiered configuration of constructed habitats provides sequential layers of different modes of remediation, resulting in a truly innovative approach.

The realization of the Gowanus Flowlands design involved the overlap of natural systems and new technological innovations. By combining evolving methods of construction with the wisdom of nature, Caine and his team were able to achieve a new and better result. A network of pedestrian circulation was laid over rows of linked wetland habitats, while building sites were created by peeling up the natural layer and slipping occupiable space beneath. This design not only activates the area and remediates existing pollution around the canal but also creates a new method for stormwater mitigation with impermeable, ecological surfaces.

The urban plan encompasses over 135 acres of space in Brooklyn, New York, including the Gowanus Canal. The project area suffers from being one of the most polluted water bodies in the country, surrounded by urban blight. This presented the challenge of not only mending the area but also mending the watershed of the canal and its ecosystem. The Gowanus Flowlands design tackles this challenge head-on, offering a comprehensive solution that addresses both the environmental and urban aspects of the site.

The master plan of Gowanus Flowlands allows for the side-by-side integration of wetland environments with the pedestrian-oriented circulation of a streetscape, two realities that are typically separated by common development archetypes. This design offers a way to achieve density, urban amenity, urban circulation, and the immersion of natural systems with micro-climates for numerous species. The proximity of these wetlands also opens up possibilities for composting, gray water reuse, urban farming or aquaculture, and natural water filtration.

The Gowanus Flowlands project was submitted as part of the Gowanus Lowline Competition in 2011 and was chosen as the winning entry. The design reflects extensive research on the existing site, identifying the location of the historic ecological watershed and the damage caused by historic industry. The combination of different ecological remediation methods helped form the mosaic of wetland habitats that provide the sectional transition from the street grid down to the water level of the canal.

One of the greatest challenges of the Gowanus Flowlands design was organizing two environments that are traditionally thought to be diametrically opposed into a union where they could coexist. The insertion of high-rise residential towers amidst the wetland canvas helped bridge the gap, allowing for comparable density to surrounding Brooklyn neighborhoods while leaving the vast majority of the site covered with constructed wetlands.

“Flowlands” proposes the coexistence of two ecologies that are often thought of as restricted to markedly different locales. New pedestrian activity exists over the more fragile wetland environment by way of a network of elevated thoroughfares for access from the streets to the edges of the canal and all points in between. The systems respond to each other much like a double helix—not combined, but rather intertwined. Together, the wetland layers work to clean not only the polluted waters of the canal but also store and filter stormwater runoff to prevent new pollution.

The Gowanus Flowlands design has been recognized for its excellence and innovation. It was awarded the Iron A' Design Award in the City Planning and Urban Design category in 2018. This prestigious award is given to well-designed, practical, and innovative creations that meet professional and industrial requirements. The Gowanus Flowlands design stands out for its integration of industry best practices, competent technical characteristics, and its contribution to a better world.