NYCHA Housing Portfolio

The landscape renovation at Audubon Houses transforms a once-overlooked and unkempt residential open space into a vibrant, nature-forward outdoor environment that honors both its namesake and the community it serves.

Named for the Audubon Society — founded in 1896 to protect birds from mass slaughter and now a cornerstone of American conservation — the design carries that spirit of care and education directly into the lived experience of residents of all ages. The play area focuses on immersion in the natural world, with beautifully written and illustrated panels attached to the playground equipment that educate children about native birds living along the Riparian Corridor of the Hudson River just down the hill, connecting them to the natural world beyond urban boundaries. Silhouettes of migrating bluebirds animate the perimeter fencing. Flanking the entry gates, custom bird sculptures were carefully constructed in several stages, starting with clay hand molds by our team and then enlarged and brought to life through a thorough process.

The design emerged from direct conversations with tenants, who requested safer access points, dedicated spaces for children of different ages, adult seating, a place for homework, and a water feature that felt joyful. Each of those requests made it into the final landscape. A large wood-beam play structure anchors the central play area, while a quieter corner for younger children includes a mesh hammock, and talking tubes. An egg-shaped splash play area brings sound, movement, and fun during the summer months. Surrounding it, seating areas with wooden benches and tables create space for parties, homework sessions, and general lounging for all ages — the kinds of everyday moments that make a place feel like home.

Permeable pavers assist the mature canopy trees that are preserved throughout, providing shade and a sense of permanence. A rich palette of native plantings layers color and texture across the seasons, supporting birds and pollinators and reinforcing the site’s ecological identity and purpose.

 

 

This project was part of NYCHA PACT, a program that unlocks funding to enable comprehensive repairs and renovations of public housing developments, while preserving tenant rights and ensuring affordability is permanently preserved. In this project, NYCHA PACT ABM and JPLA provided comprehensive landscape design renovations for the exterior spaces of three NYCHA housing developments in New York City’s Washington Heights Neighborhood, each with unique site features and needs. In collaboration with our client, Dantes Partners, NYCHA, Curtis + Ginsberg Architects, and the consulting team, we are excited to be part of this endeavor to elevate and enhance the design of people’s living spaces, cultivate healthy living, foster recreation, and build community.