Riprap Ram Jam
Sector
Environmental
Location
Gowanus, BK
Year
2023
Design Team
Cen Shen, Changsong Li
Award
IF Design Awards- Winner
RIPRAP RAM JAM is a fabrication-driven ecological building system designed for waterfront environments, exploring how architectural components can support both construction and ecological restoration.
The project proposes a modular riprap system made from locally sourced rammed earth and biodegradable marine-based binders, designed to stabilize shorelines while creating habitats for aquatic organisms.
The system is developed through digital fabrication and reusable mold strategies that allow multiple block geometries to be produced from a limited number of molds. The interlocking blocks can be dry-assembled without mortar, allowing flexible installation, repair, and replacement over time. The fabrication process reduces material waste and enables on-site or near-site production, connecting material sourcing, fabrication, and construction into a single workflow.
RIPRAP RAM JAM proposes a new approach to architectural materials and waterfront infrastructure where building components are designed with a life cycle that includes erosion, ecological growth, and eventual reintegration into the natural environment. The project explores how architecture can move beyond permanent construction toward adaptive, ecological, and time-based building systems.
