Architectural Cases

The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) has brought a historical waterfront building in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, back to life, creating a vibrant center for the city's creative and manufacturing industries. This initiative aims to foster innovation, generate jobs, and stimulate economic growth, transforming a once-restricted area into a collaborative space for a diverse range of professionals.

Brooklyn's Creative Renaissance: MADE: Bush Terminal

On the vibrant Sunset Park waterfront in Brooklyn, MADE: Bush Terminal, a visionary project spearheaded by the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and conceptualized by nARCHITECTS, has emerged as a crucial nexus for the city's creative economy. This monumental revitalization effort has breathed new life into a historic public structure, previously inaccessible for many decades, reimagining it as a thriving ecosystem for a diverse community of artisans, pioneering designers, and forward-thinking industrial innovators. Spanning an impressive 140,000 square feet of dedicated manufacturing facilities and 30,000 square feet designed for engaging public events, the MADE campus is projected to catalyze the creation of approximately 165 permanent jobs and inject a staggering 2.6 billion USD into the local economy over the next three decades. This ambitious undertaking not only provides modern, productive workspaces tailored to ignite local ingenuity and creativity but also underscores a profound commitment to sustainable practices, the cultivation of shared knowledge, and the establishment of long-term economic resilience within the community. Public Records, a renowned multifaceted music venue originating from Gowanus, Brooklyn, is set to animate the ground floor, transforming it into a dynamic, music-infused community space, further enriching the cultural fabric of the area. Jeanny Pak, Interim President and CEO of NYCEDC, emphasized that this initiative, alongside the activation of over 66,000 square feet at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, solidifies Sunset Park's burgeoning reputation as a vibrant hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and inclusive economic development, ensuring broad opportunities for all New Yorkers.

This transformative project represents a strategic long-term vision by NYCEDC to convert historical municipal assets into engines of inclusive design and economic prosperity. Dating back to the late 19th century, the original Bush Terminal held a pivotal role in New York's rich maritime heritage as the United States' largest multi-tenant industrial campus. Today, NYCEDC is charting a new course for this iconic waterfront location, integrating advancements in environmental stewardship, promoting social equity, and encouraging active local engagement. By offering adaptable spaces meticulously designed for burgeoning enterprises, the initiative robustly supports industrial investments that directly translate into robust job creation and community-centric development. MADE: Bush Terminal is effectively redefining contemporary fabrication on the Brooklyn waterfront by housing a carefully curated blend of traditional craft-based enterprises and high-tech tenants. For instance, the lighting innovator Stickbulb has significantly expanded its footprint to over 27,000 square feet within Buildings A and B, seamlessly integrating its production, design studio, and showroom into an efficient, circular design model. Pioneering 3D-printing hub Makelab operates synergistically alongside esteemed design studios such as PELLE, Aripack, and MushLume. Together, these entities are pushing the frontiers of modern object design by expertly blending technical acumen with innovative bio-based material exploration. This creative energy permeates the broader Sunset Park ecosystem, with the adjacent Brooklyn Army Terminal (BAT) hosting a diverse array of innovators, including audiovisual leader Audible Difference, clean-tech B-Corp EcoLogic Solutions, logistics provider GoLocker, and cinema technology leader Otto Nemenz. Complementing this dynamic industrial landscape, NYCEDC has inaugurated the BATWorks climate innovation hub and forged a new cultural alliance with Public Service. This partnership aims to convert a sprawling 1,000-capacity area into a vibrant venue for live music and large-scale art installations, cementing MADE's status as a landmark model for exemplary civic design, material circularity, and a flourishing creative industry.

Journey into Artistic Depth: Sordo Madaleno's Subterranean Gallery

A Dramatic Descent into the Artistic Realm

At Ánima Village, a remarkable ramp initiates a journey, gracefully tapering from the bustling plaza and descending four meters into the earth. This pathway leads to Arte Abierto Baja, a sprawling 180-square-meter open-air gallery. Designed by Sordo Madaleno, this unique space is specifically curated for grand sculptural works and bespoke installations that interact with their environment. While the surrounding mixed-use development features terracotta structures and lush planted areas, the gallery below strips back to its fundamental elements: towering walls of rough concrete under an expansive open sky.

The Interplay of Compression and Revelation

The 17-meter-long ramp, partially covered, maintains a deliberate sense of compression upon arrival. This feeling intensifies until visitors reach the gallery's base, where the space dramatically opens up. Walls exceeding five meters in height create a profound sense of enclosure for the exhibited artworks, yet the completely open roof ensures a constant connection to the elements. Fernando Sordo Madaleno describes this transition as a deliberate shift from confinement to boundless exposure, allowing the surrounding landscape to become an integral part of the artistic experience once visitors descend.

Harmonizing with the Baja Landscape: A Material Dialogue

The walls of Sordo Madaleno's Arte Abierto Baja are crafted from pigmented, bush-hammered concrete, imparting a rugged texture that beautifully captures the intense light of Baja California Sur. This material choice intimately connects the gallery to the region's rocky, arid terrain. Furthermore, the substantial thickness of these concrete walls gives the subterranean gallery a weighty presence, allowing it to stand distinct from the lighter architectural styles prevalent in the structures above.

An Unconventional Stage for Artistic Expression

The minimalist architecture of the gallery intentionally cedes prominence to the art itself. Arte Abierto Baja inaugurates its space with an installation by the esteemed Mexican artist Abraham Cruzvillegas, known for his work with found materials and improvised constructions. The architects have ingeniously leveraged the scale of the enclosed space, providing ample room for sculptures to breathe and interact with the open air. Elements like sunlight, heat, and shifting shadows are not merely external factors but active participants in the viewing experience, enhancing the dialogue between art and environment.

Arte Abierto Baja: An Integral Part of Ánima Village

Arte Abierto Baja is a thoughtful component of Sordo Madaleno's broader vision for Ánima Village, a six-hectare development structured around inviting public plazas and vegetation adapted to the desert climate. Six terracotta pavilions dot the site, with shaded pedestrian pathways linking retail areas and open squares. The landscape design is a direct response to the climate, where temperatures can soar to 36 degrees Celsius, utilizing strategic planting to provide essential shade and cooling in public zones.

Seamless Integration and Distinct Identity

Within this larger masterplan, the gallery adopts a distinct approach. Its walls are largely concealed from the main plaza, and its subterranean placement creates a unique, secluded space without isolating it from the bustling village above. Visitors can either intentionally seek out an exhibition or serendipitously discover the entrance while exploring the development. The ramp serves as a compelling threshold, bridging the dynamic activity of the upper village with the tranquil and contained artistic sanctuary below.