The Brooklyn Dairy Project presents an ambitious urban revitalization proposal that creatively reinterprets Industry City’s industrial landscape through an innovative fusion of agricultural production and public space. Designed by Yujin Cao and Xiaofan Ye, the scheme transforms the South Brooklyn site into an integrated ecosystem where dairy farming coexists with urban agriculture, community engagement, and sustainable logistics.

The Brooklyn Dairy Project’s core innovation lies in its multi-layered approach. The proposal repurposes existing rail infrastructure for material transport while introducing modular architectural elements that adapt to seasonal changes and extreme weather. A nutrient-rich soil system supports both crop cultivation and pastureland, creating closed-loop cycles where agricultural byproducts sustain dairy operations.

The architectural design employs dynamic components, including movable upper structures and sliding panels that physically reconfigure to optimize growing conditions while maintaining visual connections between productive and social spaces. This creates a distinctive spatial experience where industrial distribution zones along the southern edge gradually transition to pastoral landscapes in the north.

Image Credit: Yujin Cao and Xiaofan Ye