Ashley Khalil

I wanted to create a space that integrates outdoor and indoor communal spaces, open entrances from both street points of the building, and a directional circulation that allows you to explore the structure. The overall configuration of the building is centered around displacement and merging with multi volumes and planes. The building will be used for research, teaching, and increasing awareness about the importance of renewable energy.

My site is in the holly grove neighborhood, filled with residential houses. My housing is for low-income residents and families, so it’s affordable housing. This interlocking pattern in my housing is derived from a pinwheel shape idea in my site. The journey through the building is in this zig-zag pattern that pushes movement and mimics the building’s shape. It leads you to seating areas, commerce, and much greenery. I positioned all the programs and housing to create a public path within these private and semi-private spaces. The overall program that was given to me is services to the community such as an assembly hall/community room, computer lab, social enterprise spaces, community garden, and an outdoor amphitheater/gathering space. I also provided some pop-up commerce shops, marketplace, and coffee shop leases near the housing and beside the amphitheater.