Narrative

Invisible Ribbons is a characterless intervention that fulfills a contemporary need while preserving the iconic aesthetics of the past. The Brooklyn Bridge has a significant history of providing transportation between Brooklyn and Manhattan, which lead to an enormous development of real estate and economy. However, John A. Roebling did not dedicate his design exclusively for the benefits of the city, the promenade was an original feature of his design. Roebling thought of the bridge as a space to lift the spirit of the people. Today the promenade has become so jammed with pedestrians and cyclists that walking or riding across it has become stressful and even dangerous, much too far from Roebling’s vision. Invisible Ribbons strives to rejuvenate Roebling’s original intent. The main idea of the proposal is to separate the problematic physical interaction between cyclists and pedestrians yet maintaining a visual connection for a safer sense of inclusion. Furthermore, the two users get to reunite in a central shared plaza in the middle of the bridge. The plaza creates an opportunity for both cyclists and pedestrians to rest while enjoying the striking views of Manhattan and East River from 10 feet above the promenade. Moreover, the plaza provides a wider platform for vendors to sell their products for all visiting users, thereby having a total width of 10 feet promenade functions only for pedestrians. Just as Roebling thought it would always be.