molly mcnally
the gowanus canal
designed urban ecologies fall 2013 | red hook, brooklyn, ny
The purpose of Designed Urban Ecologies was to demonstrate an understanding of dynamic relationships between economical, ecological, and infrastructural elements. Using the Gowanus Canal as a medium to explore these connections, the post-industrial waterfront and superfund status created a unique point of contention to re-evalauation the current urban development. The design process followed a tri-part sequence to begin to understand the issues at a variety of scales. Rather than developing specific site design, the resulting conceptual infrastructure produced a series of contingent strategies for ecological reclamation and productive landscapes.
berlin, a velocity
study abroad spring 2014 | mitte, berlin, germany
Berlin continues to develop dramatically as the urban environment recovers from historic brutal bombings. Specifically in downtown, or Mitte, there has been continuous momentum to rebuild and redevelop the city. With a high activity area, the study abroad studio focused on a site that lies as a scar in the heart of the city. While tourists and commuters bustle around its perimeter, the central core of the site is neglected and overgrown yet full of potential. Therefore, this project seeks to highlight this continual velocity by carrying this movement through the site. With a flexible design, the open space reinterprets the street edge by bringing it through the site, changing daily, seasonally, and even yearly.