“Local school teacher Dorothy Stoneman and a group of teenagers decided to take action and design a project by young people around the neighborhood. One of these was to renovate a condemned building - turning it into protected, low-income housing - while also giving the young people the skills they needed to become leaders in their own community.” — YAYB
The layout came out of studying the activity/energy levels of the different programs, and using a physical string model to develop and manipulate a spatial organization diagram. The resulting (non-orthogonal) layout gathers more focused/private spaces (classrooms, offices) around a higher energy public/common core, separated by a transformable membrane that allows a blurring of that boundary for public events. Neighbors are invited inside for weekly student-led community programs, giving students valuable experience through addressing community needs.
TRANSFERRING PARTI TO PLAN:
1. Identify the grid as structural elements, such as columns.
2. Identify criteria for a Push vs Pull reaction
Pull =
- Public
- More people
- More natural light
- More natural air flow
Push =
- Private
- Fewer people
- More artificial light
- More mechinical air
3. Identify where the space must change with the user.
Use of Color
Green - Rest and Breakout Spaces
Blue - Education Spaces
Yellow - Office and Admin Spaces
Plan "States" - Transforming for public programs
The interiors draw inspiration from progressive educational space precedents, utilizing simple, inexpensive, natural materials, in a laid-back, calm environment meant to foreground learning and help students focus. Colors are used to designate program and wayfinding. The aim is a simple canvas that creates an inviting and creative space for students and community members of East Harlem.
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