On Sanctuary: Design for a Domestic Violence Shelter, 2019.
This design for a domestic violence shelter aims to create a feeling of autonomy within a secure environment through strategies such as the breaking down of masses, layering of spaces, and integration of nature to provide more varied experiences. A combination of wood and stucco is used on alternating masses to help break the building down to the scale of its predominantly residential context. Living unit windows and shutters promote autonomy by the operability they afford. From the exterior, however, they are intended to project a more fluid, unified, rhythmic sense of the building which serves to not overly accentuate the individual. Two main rooftop gardens highlight the ability for residents to feel both free and protected within the shelter. They are accessible to all in the building, yet their carved stair entrances are relatively hidden. The space then opens, elevated and protected yet grounded by the presence of nature.