Project 1018 "Grow A Lot"

Grow A Lot activates vacant urban land with targeted building interventions—in this case, greenhouses that provide fresh produce to communities with limited access to healthy food. Conceived as a design-forward strategy, the project creates value beyond food production by introducing architecture that is visible, legible, and actively engaged with its surroundings.

A prototype greenhouse is planned for a city-owned lot in East New York, Brooklyn, slated for future housing but left vacant due to the high cost of brownfield remediation. Designed for rapid assembly and disassembly, the structure supports an extended growing season for locally produced, hydroponically grown food while making productive use of land that would otherwise remain idle.

The design combines a kit-of-parts greenhouse structure with a semi-custom lenticular facade that operates at the scale of urban signage. This pairing allows the system to adapt to a wide range of site conditions and neighborhood contexts. The lenticular fins communicate the project’s purpose, drawing passersby toward the growing spaces while maintaining openness and security without relying on defensive barriers. Initially developed in collaboration with Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation and New York Sun Works, the concept has since been extended for broader implementation through a commitment with the Clinton Global Initiative America.