D.I.R.T. studio

D.I.R.T. studio is a critical, research-based landscape design practice founded by Julie Bargmann in 1992. The firm specializes in urban regeneration, with a primary focus on transforming neglected, post-industrial, and contaminated sites into ecologically and culturally productive landscapes. The studio approaches projects by meticulously studying the social and environmental histories of each location, often integrating innovative, ecologically-based technologies and reclaiming materials found on-site. By reframing industrial challenges as opportunities, the practice works to create robust, layered landscapes that foster lasting community stewardship and reveal the complex stories embedded within the land.

This work serves clients and communities by revitalizing abandoned spaces—such as former foundries, steel mills, and railyards—and turning them into functional parks, cultural cores, and public grounds. The firm’s projects, including notable work at the Ford River Rouge site, the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and various community parks, demonstrate a commitment to sustainability, social relevance, and environmental integrity. By making complex landscape processes legible to the public, D.I.R.T. studio provides partners with authentic, grounded solutions that address urban decay while honoring the historical and ecological identity of the region. The practice is widely recognized for its intellectual rigor and design excellence, earning significant industry accolades for its role in rethinking how society interacts with degraded industrial environments.