Domino Square forms the final element of the Domino Campus in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, which stretches between the landmarked sugar refinery, the One Domino Square towers designed by Selldorf Architects, Kent Avenue and the expansive Domino Park. The one-hectare complex is integrated into this urban context as a multi-dimensional structure: it combines town square, retail and infrastructure.
The building is positioned on an underground water treatment plant and structures the public space above with a sloping, accessible roof landscape. This form creates a seamless connection to the adjacent Domino Park and at the same time generates a programmable area for events. The facility is designed in such a way that it functions not only as a transit area, but also as an independent recreational space. The topography of the square allows for different perspectives on the surroundings, which is a welcome enrichment, especially in densely built-up urban areas.
Studio Cadena designed the building as a kind of “hybrid urban building block”. On the street line, gabled retail fronts with a continuous arcade define the edges of the square. The entrances are deliberately kept low and extend upwards to form striking roof lines. This differentiated design responds to the human scale and provides a counterpoint to the surrounding high-rise buildings.
The façade design relies on raw, weather-resistant materials. The supporting columns made of sandblasted concrete, whose width varies between one and one and a half meters, underline the industrial character of the site. Visible pipe structures of the underlying infrastructure reference the site’s history as a production facility and continue the formal language of the neighboring industrial architecture. The choice of materials was not only based on aesthetic considerations, but also on ecological and functional aspects. Concrete offers durability, while the exposure of the load-bearing elements allows the space to be used flexibly in the future.
The landscape architecture by Field Operations uses the topography of the building to create a stepped square that can be used for a variety of purposes. The sloping roof landscape forms an “urban grandstand” that serves both as a venue for cultural events and as a recreational space. Integrated tree plantings of deciduous and coniferous trees provide seasonal differentiation and natural sun protection. The planting was strategically chosen so that it not only sets visual accents, but also has a positive influence on the microclimate of the square. The placement of wind-breaking elements reduces the unpleasant downdraughts that often occur in high-density locations.
A separate, quieter area in the south-west of the square offers places of retreat with seating niches and raised plant beds, which also form a buffer zone to the adjacent residential buildings. From a viewing terrace at the south-west corner, the view opens up over Domino Park and the Williamsburg Bridge. The design of this area was undertaken with the diverse user groups in mind: While some zones are designed for interaction, others are deliberately screened off to create quiet places to spend time.
Domino Square is an example of the increasing hybridization of urban construction tasks, in which architecture, infrastructure and public space merge together. The design as a walk-in building integrates urban resilience strategies, including the visualization of technical infrastructure and the consideration of climatic conditions through the choice of materials and greenery. At the same time, the project shows how former industrial areas can be transformed into highly attractive and functional public spaces without losing their historical identity.
The development of the Domino Campus follows a mixed-use strategy that promotes not only high-quality open spaces, but also commercial and social programs. Domino Square demonstrates how architecture in post-industrial urban areas can act not only as a formal object, but as a functional, flexible component of the urban fabric. In addition, the incorporation of infrastructure elements into the architectural concept demonstrates a new approach to technical necessities: Instead of hiding them away, they are integrated into the design and incorporated into the public space.
Domino Square is therefore not just a square or a building, but a forward-looking model for multi-layered urban development that responds to the needs of different user groups and expands existing urban structures without dominating them.
Also interesting: The Little Island by Heatherwick Studio.
