97 Crooke Avenue is a 53 unit, nine story building built on a triangular vacant site in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn. This award winning building offers affordable and supportive housing to qualified residents. WDLA was tasked with designing the entry that enlivens the streetscape featuring a large mounded planted area with a focal sculpture that leads you to the bluestone paved entrance plaza with bench seating, decorative lighting and freestanding planters. The rear yard garden has areas of planting that effectively vary the width of the bluestone paved area and are juxtaposed to the alcoves of garden seating. Interspersed are freestanding raised planters and sculptures. A sculptural perimeter fence composed of three tiers of panel with pickets at random angles and a center panel with perforated metal screens in various shades of green complements the artwork and other components of the rear yard. The distinctive design at 97 Crooke Avenue is an example that proves affordable housing can be sustainable, aesthetically pleasing, have a richness of materials and provide a valuable site amenity for its residents.
Status: Completed 2011