As you approach the intersection of 4th avenue and 9th street in Brooklyn’s Park Slope neighborhood, the hum of traffic increases to a roar and the sidewalks dwindle to barren concrete ledges. You feel exposed, mildly panicked, and overwhelmed by the rush of cars, trucks, and people forging paths through the congestion. Even for Brooklynites, this intersection is one you want to leave behind as quickly as possible.

We propose a reordering of this chaos. We propose an intersection that is as much a destination as a transitional pathway. We propose massive changes that will serve as a benchmark for reordering the urban spaces in our lives. We propose a journey that is both safe and pleasurable, and that elevates the everyday experience to one of surprise and delight.

Ascension’s central principle is a re-ordering of the travel hierarchy. Pedestrians and cyclists flow freely through the intersection, elevated on a modern day piazza above the noise and rush of motor vehicles. Traffic lanes dip below the platform, moving efficiently through a space with few obstacles. Mass transit occupies the transitional space between the pedestrian and vehicle worlds, offering neatly integrated hubs at practical locations. All modes of travel operate within their own contexts, and achieve their greatest efficiency and comfort through practical reorganization.

The central platform at the intersection of 4th avenue and 9th street is the center from which all amenities emanate. At the center is the skylight gazing pool, offering a refreshing retreat for pedestrians as well as an ethereal experience for the drivers passing beneath its crystal reflections. Cyclists climb gradual slopes to rise above the traffic and flow safely through the piazza on color designated bike paths. Pedestrians transition comfortably from sidewalk to platform, enjoying the sun, air, and peace of the open public space that was once so daunting.

Plantings are integrated throughout, and the cool relief of water and green are reflected and amplified in the new cladding of the train overpass. The overpass offers up its height and breadth as the platform for a unique sculptural cladding, magnifying the environment and creating infinitely captivating imagery that moves and changes with the flow of life. The rush of congestion that was once overwhelming becomes beautiful to observe.

Motor vehicles now enjoy designated travel spaces, and though travel lanes have been sacrificed, efficiency of movement is maximized. Parking areas are well positioned, and mass transit is allotted segregated space that doesn’t impede the flow of traffic. Other intersections benefit from curb extensions, color coded pathways, continental crosswalks, and bike lane signals—all of which ease the conflict between travel modes and create comfortable, honest shared space.

The changes we propose in Ascension reorganize the hierarchy of travel modes, protecting and guiding pedestrians and cyclists while easing the flow of traffic. Our lives and our experiences belong to us. We believe Ascension is the experience our community desires and deserves.