499 President: Scandi Elegance Meets Gowanus Grit in a Bold Rethink of Brooklyn Rental Living – An Inside Interview
Stella Manferdini | Design Courier
In the heart of Brooklyn, Gowanus is rewriting its story – transforming from gritty industrial relic into one of New York’s most compelling case studies in urban reinvention. Once known for its polluted canal and derelict warehouses, the neighbourhood is now embracing a new identity: green, design-conscious, and community-oriented, with more than a touch of Copenhagen cool. At the centre of this shift is a revitalised waterfront, complete with native landscaping, pedestrian bridges, and ambitious public art. And rising just steps away is 499 President — a bold new development that doesn’t merely echo Gowanus’ evolution, but actively helps shape its next chapter.
Developed by Brodsky and Avery Hall, designed by SLCE Architects with interiors by Brooklyn-based CL-OTH Interiors, 499 President exemplifies the elegance of Danish-inspired minimalism while staying rooted in the grit and soul of Gowanus. Its contemporary, hand-laid brick façade – crafted using materials from storied Danish manufacturer Petersen Tegl – nods to the neighbourhood’s industrial DNA, while framing a lush internal courtyard that acts as a verdant portal from the city’s chaos to something altogether more serene.
