VISION
A sustainable city recognizes the value of public spaces because it is important to the social life of the city. The social life is one of the three dimensions defining sustainability, the other two being economy and ecology. There has to be a good balance between these three dimensions in order to develop a good city environment and a sustainable living space.

STRUCTURE
As certain buildings create identity and are point of attractions, certain public spaces should be given the same opportunity; public street hubs, points of activity and program.
As landmarks in the city these hubs will function within the important network of public transport, bicycle routes and they will facilitate necessary program, such as a bike rental store, first aid, bus- and subway stops and internet free zone. This public hubs should include functions that will make public transport, biking and social meeting easier. These hubs should also be unique spaces, specific landscapes in the city that will give the hub and its surrounding a strong identity that people can recognize and relate to.

PROPOSAL
4th Ave and 9th st is transformed from being a motor vehicle highway to a inviting street crossing with wide sidewalks. The crossing becomes one of the important public hubs in Brooklyn.

SPACE
The wide street profiles are downscaled coming into the crossing. No parking is allowed in the near zone of the crossing. The extra space that is created becomes new sidewalks. These new wide sidewalks become a space that bikers and pedestrians can share, safe from the traffic. This space has also the possibility to hold events, such as a Christmas market.
The high curbs of the sidewalk, in strong colors, separate the sidewalk from motor vehicle traffic and give the crossing an identity. The high curbs also prevent cars from parking along the street.

LANDSCAPE
By using the waste heat coming from the subway under the street a spectacular botanical garden can be created at the 9th and 4th. This botanical garden is one of public city gardens that could be developed together with the public street hubs. This crossing is green all year around due to the Mediterranean plants that fancy the heat coming from the subway running under the street. Through ventilation pipes the air heats the soil and keeps a nice environment for the plants.