[conceptual] Design Competition

Architecture for Humanity New York organized a design competition with the challenge of renovating an existing public school classroom into a new culinary lab and art studio.  Developed in concert with a team of coworkers, our approach explored ways to create opportunities for these two separate programs to overlap with each other through a series of dynamic shared features.  With space at a premium and a limited construction budget we also felt it crucial to maximize the flexibility and functionality of all of the design elements.  The resulting concept is anchored by two shared elements: the Student Wall and the Teaching Wall.

Constructed around an existing knee wall that could not be removed the Student Wall is a series of folding surfaces that can be configured to meet the needs of each class by serving as work spaces as well as a space to share ideas and experiences.  The Teaching Wall, comprised of movable display and instruction spaces, is positioned at the front of the room and can be adapted to meet the needs of a variety of class activities.