Bjarke Ingels Proposes “Three-Dimensional Neighborhood” for Brooklyn’s Gowanus Canal

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Summary

  • Bjarke Ingels Group has designed a 27-story building set to occupy 175 Third St on Brooklyn’s Gowanus Canal, a reimagined concept from a 2023 proposal.
  • Designed in collaboration with dencityworks | architecture and developers Charney Companies and Tavros, the development will comprise terraced concrete volumes and a public park designed by NYC Parks and Field Operations.

Bjarke Ingels Group has revealed designs for a three-dimensional residential area, which is part of the future redevelopment plans surrounding Brooklyn’s Gowanus Canal. This new concept replaces an earlier proposal that was presented in 2023. The expanded project covers approximately one million square feet and features a park designed by Field Operations along with NYC Parks, as well as an internal courtyard with stepped levels providing breathtaking vistas of the New York City skyline.

Bjarke Ingels, founder and designer of BIG, revealed that the 175 Third Street project is designed as a “multi-dimensional community constructed from stacked building blocks, enclosing a central park that slopes towards the waterfront.” He further explained that these sensible structures are carved and beveled, making room for terraces, entrances, and outdoor areas at their corners. This design style creates numerous nooks suitable for various life forms – both urban and intimate, public and private, within and surrounding the architecture.

This tower, constructed using terraced concrete blocks in partnership with dencityworks | architecture, Charney Companies, and Tavros, stands tall at 27 stories. It will provide over 1,000 residential units, including approximately 250 affordable housing options. As explained by Martin Voelkle of BIG, the building’s volumes feature deliberate shifts and rounded corners that cater to both functional requirements and the site’s zoning restrictions. The structure gracefully curves into a descending U-shape, leading towards the waterfront park that connects 2nd and 3rd Streets.

As reported by Brownstoner, the previous design for a building in 2023, featuring a more abstract, artistic style, was ordered by former owners RFR. They later sold the property to new developers for approximately $160 million USD in April. This structure is part of the larger “Gowanus Wharf” regeneration plan. Notably, Charney and Tavros are responsible for four projects in Gowanus, with this building being their fourth. These properties encompass over 2 million square feet of new construction development.

See the gallery above for a closer look at the proposed design.

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2025-06-07 16:55