In dense urban spaces the street becomes the public realm in which flows intersect. Pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles, natural elements all share the street. As pedestrians, the street is where we walk, get on trains, meet our friends, wait for a bus, or grab a newspaper. The street holds an inherent pedestrian nature that is often suppressed through vehicular-oriented design. The intersection of 4th Avenue and 9th Street in Brooklyn displays typical characteristics of many urban streets: people are using the space despite the unfriendly design. This proposal hopes to reveal the street for the destination it is through aesthetic, physical, and ecological changes.

The fundamental design move is to extend the curbs at the four corners of the intersection. This shortens the crossing distance for pedestrians and provides pedestrian refuge while they wait to cross. Widening the sidewalk here creates an outdoor room that gives comfort to the pedestrian. Extending the curb also provides an opportunity to slow traffic and provide visual clearance for drivers. Wide crosswalks give pedestrians space needed to cross safely, while brick materials highlight the pedestrian path. The curb is also extended within each block, where tree pits and intermittent pedestrian crossings further help to slow traffic down. Each tree pit has an interior seat that provides gathering spaces for pedestrians to enjoy the shade.

This design also prioritizes on-site stormwater management. Water in the gutter flows through tree pits that lie in curb extensions between intersections. This filters the water, and allows it to permeate the ground, both watering the trees and recharging the local groundwater system. Water continues to flow to the corners, where it is filtered through beds of urban-hardy grasses and herbs, which serve as sponges and filters for the street runoff. The flows of water on-site are visible to the public, thereby increasing awareness of natural processes.