Architecture Studios for Kids and Families in Gowanus
Summer Studio Space
573 Sackett Street, 2nd Floor (between 3rd & Nevins)
This summer, we are hosting our studios at 573 Sackett Street, one block from the Thomas Greene Playground and directly above the Still Life Cafe. The space is an airy loft with plenty of light and room to build.
Flagship Space (opening Sept 2026)
420 Carroll Street, Ground Floor (between Nevins & the Canal)
Longer term, we will be setting up shop in the ground floor of 420 Carroll Street. In addition to our studio space, we will have an art store and book shop. Read more about the space in recent coverage from the Brooklyn Paper and Crain’s.
Summer Studios
Our Summer Studios are week-long architecture and design programs where young creators explore real building types, learn hands-on model-making skills, and contribute to collaborative worlds.
Each week introduces a new architectural theme — from townhouses to skyscrapers, cabins to cosmic habitats — and teaches drawing, drafting, and building techniques. Participants sketch, build, explore materials, learn architectural history, and enjoy outdoor time. Extended Day offers additional time for independent making.
Every student finishes the week with a photographed portfolio of their drawings and models. By Friday, individual projects come together to form a collective environment: a Brooklyn block, a city skyline, a floating neighborhood, a Galaxy District, and more.
Ages 6 – 12 | We offer early drop‑off at 8:30 a.m. and extended afternoon hours from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
- Weekly rate (9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.): $850
- Early drop-off (8:30 a.m.): $15/day
- Extended day (3:00 – 6:00 p.m.): $50/day or $200/week
Bonus Week: Treehouse
June 22 – June 26
Students dive into elevated architecture, studying ladders, platforms, supports, and the relationship between structure and landscape. They’ll examine iconic treehouses, map out branching site plans, and build imaginative hideaways among the canopy. Together, their creations form a continuous stretch of treehouses perched above adjoining backyards, creating a playful, elevated version of a Brooklyn block.
Week 1: Townhouse
June 29 – July 3
Children explore the iconic Brooklyn townhouse, studying stoops, cornices, back gardens, and the rhythm of rowhouse streets. They’ll sketch façades, plan interior layouts, and build a detailed model of their own townhouse. By the end of the week, individual homes line up to form a complete Brooklyn block.
NEW: To accommodate holiday schedules, we have opened up a partial week registration option.
Week 2: Skyscraper
July 6 – July 10
Students dive into the world of tall buildings — structure, stability, elevators, and expressive façades. They’ll learn how skyscrapers stand up, examine famous towers, and design their own high-rise. Together, the models assemble into a dramatic city skyline.
Week 3: Cabin
July 13 – July 17
A nature-inspired week focused on materials, landscape, and cozy design. Kids study cabins from around the world, sketch site plans, and build models using natural palettes. Their individual cabins come together to form a peaceful Catskills retreat.
Week 4: Beach House
July 20 – July 24
Students explore coastal architecture — stilts, decks, breezeways, and bright, airy spaces. They’ll design a beach house suited for sun, wind, and water, then join their models into a lively boardwalk community.
Week 5: Floating Structure
July 27 – July 31
Children imagine life on the water, designing houseboats, barges, floating studios, or experimental aquatic structures. They’ll learn about buoyancy, sustainability, and adaptive reuse. By Friday, their models form a visionary floating neighborhood inspired by the Gowanus Canal.
Week 6: Park Pavilion
August 3 – August 7
Kids design small structures found in parks — pavilions, kiosks, shade shelters, bandstands, and gathering spaces. They’ll explore how architecture shapes public life and assemble their models into a shared park landscape.
Week 7: Dream Room
August 10 – August 14
Participants design their ideal room — a space that reflects their personality, interests, and sense of comfort. They’ll explore interior architecture, furniture layout, color, lighting, and spatial flow. By the end of the week, individual rooms connect into a shared dream house.
Week 8: Restaurant
August 17 – August 21
Students dive into hospitality design: kitchens, seating layouts, signage, circulation, and the sensory experience of dining. Each participant creates a unique restaurant concept — from cozy cafés to futuristic eateries — and together they form a vibrant food hall full of personality.
Week 9: Cosmic Structure
August 24 – August 28
Kids imagine life beyond Earth, designing habitats, research pods, landing stations, or space gardens. They’ll learn how architecture adapts to extreme environments — low gravity, limited materials — and assemble their models into a shared Galaxy District.
Week 10: Museum
August 31 – September 4
Students explore how museums are designed to showcase art, artifacts, and stories. They’ll study famous museums, experiment with gallery layouts, and design their own exhibition spaces. The collective becomes a “Museum Mile,” echoing New York’s iconic stretch of cultural institutions.
Mini Studios (school holidays)
A full day of guided builds, open‑ended making, and hands‑on exploration with architectural materials and tools. Kids begin with a structured project that introduces a technique or concept, then expand, adapt, and invent as they go. Throughout the day, we’ll experiment with form and structure.
Afterschool
We are offering drop-in afterschool for the week of June 22nd! School is still going, but afterschool is mostly wrapped up. Come build with us! We’re offering drop-in afterschool Mon-Fri of that week with mini design challenges, open studio time, and plenty of creative play. Drop off only.
After-school will be available for Fall 2026. Pick-up options available for neighboring schools. Email hello@brooklynbuildersstudio.com if you would like pick-up at your school.
Open Studios (weekends)
Open Studios are a chance for kids to experiment, build, and create in a relaxed, welcoming environment. We start with a guided prompt to spark ideas, then open the space for kids to explore materials, tools, and their own imagination. Parents are welcome to stay or drop off.
Stay tuned for our lunch date open studios series: 12pm – 3pm weekend drop offs.
Birthday Parties
Interested in hosting your birthday party in our studio? Email hello@brooklynbuildersstudio.com to coordinate. We can also come to you!
Contact Us
Email us at: hello@brooklynbuildersstudio.com