Echoes of Gowanus

Contributors

Lingjie Lu (M.S. AAD '26)
Ria Adhimulam (M.S. AAD '26)

Class

ARCH 7111 Design A

Instructors

Alessandro Orsini

The Gowanus Canal reflects layers of history — from Lenape settlements and industrial factories to a thriving artist community — culminating in a toxic yet meaningful landscape.

Our project embraces this complexity. It celebrates the artist spirit through graffiti walls and a curving roof inspired by Lenape structures, while exposed trusses and a metallic finish echo the area’s industrial past. Designed as an “anti-powerhouse,” the site prioritizes community over control, hosting recycling and planting workshops that repurpose industrial waste. A bioswale and filtration system treat stormwater before releasing it into the canal. The site connects people, revives ecology, and honors the layered history of Gowanus.