Addressing history as a productive design discourse, this project activates the sociocultural and historical layers of an existing building site. Using processes of layering, carving, archiving, and excavating, along with the theories of phenomenal and literal transparency, spaces are created that reflect the past while empowering present users to reintegrate into the community and become productive members of society. By manipulating form, line and spatial orders, a resulting palimpsest of space aims to pinpoint these moments of change, elevating and giving new meaning to them.

MFA Thesis Project for Pratt Institute. 2019.

Through the use of the analysis and design strategies, the layout of plan and section was inspired by the history of the building. Using four key moves to draw the user’s attention to the history of the building, the floors are laid out according to varying degrees of pirvacy and community integration. Beginning with total community integration on the bottom, to total privacy of inmates sleeping quarters within the top four floors. The walls are laid out according to where past walls exist or once existed, which the other lines in the plan signify where new tile will be inlaid - drawing attention to the beautiful finishes of the YMCA period - or where the flooring will be scarred and cut away revealing what is below. The fourth case deals with a reflection of the plan lines onto the ceiling as lighting condition.