Camouflage in Plain Sight: Berkeley Domestic Violence Shelter, 2019.
With the expansion of the information age, contested domestic violence facilities, which have traditionally relied on secrecy in order to operate effectively, are now developing new models that bridge the gap between open invitation and secure enclosure, seeking new architectural methods that rethink the paradigm of barrier-driven security.
This shelter rethinks the role that physical barriers play in privacy and security, using the “Bay Window” spatial element to bridge isolation and openness and find a healthy medium. The geometry provides private balconies and interior vantage points that avoid facing directly towards other residents and provide seclusion from the busy public streets, yet allow engagement with the surroundings. The Bay Window undulations create nooks throughout the structure, providing ample opportunities to escape and enjoy solitary relaxation, while also forming community spaces and facades that encourage inhabitants to occupy the perimeter rather than view it as a barrier between themselves and the outside world.