Urban Cultivations

Brooklyn, NY

Redhook

Farming struggles to meet urban needs due to high land and water use, inefficiency, and long transport distances. In Red Hook—a hub for truck-based distribution and major carbon emissions—this project reimagines the abandoned Grain Terminal as a vertical hydroponics farm. Utilizing all 54 silos for water-saving systems, it tackles urban food supply while cutting emissions. Robotic arms streamline harvesting, and drone distribution replaces trucks. As a scalable model, this system promotes sustainable urban farming, empowering communities and reducing agriculture’s environmental impact. Community engagement ensures local food access and integration into Red Hook’s future.

Project Date: Fall 2024

CASE Faculty: Fleet Hower

Course: Architectural Design Studio

CASE Students: Nihar Menon & William Richards

Project Description:

Students were tasked with choosing a project site in the Red Hook Neighborhood of Brooklyn, a popular waterfront district that is prone to flooding. Despite that the area is at high risk for the effects of climate change, the neighborhood has become more popular in recent years there is an influx of businesses, entertainment and residents causing commercial rent and housing costs to rise. Through this project students strategically chose sites and developed buildings that address climate challenges while simultaneously catering to current and predicted trends in housing and population evolution.