Thesis Presentation: A Multi-Cultural Center
[5th Yr. Studio_Spring 2010]
[5th Yr. Studio_Spring 2010]
Abstract :This thesis argues that todays awareness of immigrant culture and an immigrants sense of identity has not
been a focused aspect of architecture in the United States. This raises the issue that immigrants such as
West Indian and Latino immigrants from the Caribbean do not have a particular place in America to legitimately call their own.
This poses the question of what role can an architect play in addressing this issue of culture and identity
among these ethnic groups? How can culture and identity be manifested into an architectural expression
that allows it to both represent itself and respect certain existing conditions?
My thesis explores the creation of an architecture that focuses on immigrant culture and identity among
diverse ethnic groups.
But in order to understand the possibilities of a design response, its useful to study places that are already
socially diverse in order to finds ways that the built environment could be manipulated to support ethnically diverse social territories and communities.
The focus of this project has realized that the vehicle of architecture can be used to express immigrant culture and identity, bridging the gap across cultures.
Deemed a multicultural space to celebrate immigrant cultures the intervention is geared towards diverse West Indian and Latino immigrant groups from the Caribbean, living in the Philadelphia area and the larger American Society. By housing and showcasing festivals, food, dance and music of the immigrant groups within this multicultural space the space would have important meaning for the two immigrant groups especially the younger generation as a means of creating a space that connects them with their ancestral roots in a society that labels and stereotypes. The multicultural space affords immigrants the ability to establish a freedom of self that does not conform to a dictated American architectural expression, but embodies the immigrant cultural experience and their traditional uses.
In this same fashion a cross generational experience ensures that the culture is not lost and is of particular importance in a society where assimilation requires that immigrants relinquish some aspects of their culture and identity if they want to become acccepted as American citizens.
The intention of the architecture is to foster increased interaction amongst its users in a society that is segregated on some levels.
been a focused aspect of architecture in the United States. This raises the issue that immigrants such as
West Indian and Latino immigrants from the Caribbean do not have a particular place in America to legitimately call their own.
This poses the question of what role can an architect play in addressing this issue of culture and identity
among these ethnic groups? How can culture and identity be manifested into an architectural expression
that allows it to both represent itself and respect certain existing conditions?
My thesis explores the creation of an architecture that focuses on immigrant culture and identity among
diverse ethnic groups.
But in order to understand the possibilities of a design response, its useful to study places that are already
socially diverse in order to finds ways that the built environment could be manipulated to support ethnically diverse social territories and communities.
The focus of this project has realized that the vehicle of architecture can be used to express immigrant culture and identity, bridging the gap across cultures.
Deemed a multicultural space to celebrate immigrant cultures the intervention is geared towards diverse West Indian and Latino immigrant groups from the Caribbean, living in the Philadelphia area and the larger American Society. By housing and showcasing festivals, food, dance and music of the immigrant groups within this multicultural space the space would have important meaning for the two immigrant groups especially the younger generation as a means of creating a space that connects them with their ancestral roots in a society that labels and stereotypes. The multicultural space affords immigrants the ability to establish a freedom of self that does not conform to a dictated American architectural expression, but embodies the immigrant cultural experience and their traditional uses.
In this same fashion a cross generational experience ensures that the culture is not lost and is of particular importance in a society where assimilation requires that immigrants relinquish some aspects of their culture and identity if they want to become acccepted as American citizens.
The intention of the architecture is to foster increased interaction amongst its users in a society that is segregated on some levels.
The focus of this project has realized that the vehicle of architecture can be used to express immigrant culture and identity, bridging the gap across cultures.
