RAAD-Designed Bushwick Building May Have the World’s Largest Urban Farm
Design firm RAAD is no stranger to boundary-pushing projects (their founder James Ramsey is a co-creator of the Lowline underground park), and their latest endeavor may grant them bragging rights as the designers behind the city’s, perhaps even the world’s, largest urban farm.
Brownstoner spotted conceptual renderings (read: the developer has not filed permits nor have they confirmed they’ll move ahead with RAAD’s vision) for 930 Flushing Avenue in Bushwick, part of the Rheingold Brewery mega-development. The mixed-use project, officially known as 1 Bushwick, would offer commercial, retail, residential, hotel, cultural, and agricultural spaces. The aforementioned rooftop farm would be nearly 165,000 square feet; Brooklyn Grange, which is currently the world’s largest rooftop soil farm, occupies 108,000 square feet across two sites. A description of 1 Bushwick says: “Guests relaxing in the rooftop pool will be regaled by a rare experience: views of the skyscrapers of Manhattan — and cornfields.”
A Google Street View of the current site
The monolithic gray facade appears to be a modern interpretation of the site’s current warehouse, though we’re not sure why the renderings appear so ominous. The residential portion will wrap around Stanwix and Noll Streets, with the hotel tower serving as a divider for the rooftop. The farm has a massive skylight that opens to the retail space below and what looks like a giant corn maze with picnic tables in between.
The 605,500-square-foot development is part of the larger, 10-block Rheingold Brewery development, where architectural firm ODA proposed a 400-unit rental building. Developer Rabsky Group bought 930 Flushing Avenue for $11.25 million in June 2014. The site was one of many sold by Read Property Group that caused controversy for the fact that their zoning prohibits affordable housing, though Read agreed it would set aside 30 percent of units for just that. Rabsky has said they will move ahead with the agreement, but they aren’t legally bound.
[Via Brownstoner]
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Renderings via RAAD
