Riprap Ram Jam

RIPRAP RAM JAM envisions architecture as a regenerative interface that unites technological precision, ecological restoration, and human habitation. Situated along the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, New York, the project responds to a post-industrial landscape where surrounding highways and factories have disrupted natural habitats. Once home to diverse aquatic species, the canal has seen birds, crabs, and fish abandon their breeding grounds. The design reverses this transformation, creating an architectural system that restores biodiversity while redefining sustainable construction along the city’s waterfront.



The project employs a robotic fabrication method using locally sourced soil combined with biodegradable nutrients derived from crab and kelp powder. A robotic arm cuts foam blocks placed in reusable wooden frames, which serve as molds. These are printed with nutrient-rich biomaterial patterns, air dried, and then filled with compressed earth to produce modular bricks. By adjusting the orientation of identical molds, various brick profiles are created while ensuring material reuse and minimal waste.



The resulting bio-bricks construct both underwater and above-ground environments. Below the waterline, they form small shelters for fish and crabs, while terraced brick arrangements along the bank attract birds to rest and interact with the canal. Over time, the biomaterial dissolves as organisms feed on it, and the remaining clay structure gradually erodes into sand, returning to the natural sediment cycle.



On land, the same brick modules form a research and observation pavilion for long-term resident scientists studying the canal’s ecosystem. The structure includes a resting area where large windows are created through the integration of brick modules with embedded frames and rails. This system allows the bricks to slide and interlock within the openings, producing panoramic views while maintaining continuity. Inside, a robotic arm continues fabrication, allowing researchers and visitors to observe the connection between technology, material, and environment.



Through its integration of sustainable materials, robotic precision, and ecological intelligence, RIPRAP RAM JAM transforms the Gowanus Canal into a living laboratory for renewal.