Dissociate and Camouflage: A Domestic Violence Shelter, 2019.
In Architecture 100C, we explored the urban context, analyzing the contemporary camouflage methodologies that will best achieve both the security needs of Domestic Violence shelters while preserving the healing quality of the space. I embraced the traditional residential roof as a motif to camouflage the building elevation within the neighborhood. The roof became a playful opportunity to preserve the context of the roof lines on that street. The camouflaging continued in the façade where the building was broken up volumetrically and materially to give the illusion of multiple buildings. The push and pull on the floor plate created a play with shadow and light, emphasizing the heterogeneity of the building. Over this investigation, I discovered that the building’s role should be to foster a sense of community while preserving the agency of the residents in how they can interact with space. I used courtyards not just as an opportunity to question the boundaries of inside vs. outside but also to encourage different levels of community interaction. The goal is that ultimately the building will encourage the seamless interaction between different stakeholders while preserving a sense of agency and individuality that is fundamental in the healing process of domestic violence victims.