Bjarke Ingels Group has partnered with landscape designer James Corner Field Operations to envision a skyscraping waterfront development for Williamsburg, Brooklyn that combines a mix of uses with innovative protections against storm surges. The River Street Waterfront Master Plan proposes two multi-use towers on a parcel of vacant land owned by developer Two Trees, which also redeveloped the adjacent six-acre Domino Sugar Factory site into an urban park.

River Street Watefront Master Plan, image via Two Trees Management

The team's plan aims to reconnect New Yorkers to the East River at a currently inaccessible slice of the waterfront. Renderings for the project show a grassy and sandy beachfront linking the ground plane of the towers with the shoreline. A range of public amenities—including an ampthitheatre, porch swings, kiosks for kayak rentals, cafes and boat launch—would be located on the beachfront.

River Street Watefront Master Plan, image via Two Trees Management

A series of structures are embedded in the river, including a circular esplanade surrounding a protected boating area. The elevated walkway would lead to a manmade island and breakwater, which will feature nature trails, picnic spots, and lookouts. 

River Street Watefront Master Plan, image via Two Trees Management

A large swath of the land, which Two Trees paid $350 million USD for, would be excavated and filled with water to reduce flooding risk. Other preventative measures would be employed to keep high waters at bay, including a stepped sea bed underneath the park that would mitigate storm surges from extreme weather events.

River Street Watefront Master Plan, image via Two Trees Management

The BIG-designed towers would rise from a triangular footprint. Their sloped edges, mimicking the gentle curve of the shoreline, allow for views to the water from the site's entry road. The buildings are proposed to house 1,000 residential units, 250 of which would be designated affordable. Interiors would also contain office space, retail, and a 47,000-square-foot YMCA community gym.

Project approvals are expected to take two years, with completion five years later.

For more information, check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.