Jesse Cermak

By: Jesse Cole Cermak

Sonder - n. “the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk.”

Sonder and Bazaar, an LGBTQ+ hub, market, and housing environment came into fruition due to the overwhelming statistic that is 40% of New York City’s homeless youth identifies as either lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or questioning. Much of this population consists of active artists, designers, and creators within the community. Sonder and Bazaar gives these individuals a platform and space in order to not only make a living through their craft, but gives them a chance to express themselves in a safe environment. The various programs within the space allow employment chances through permanent shops as well as a space for makers to sell their goods in a constantly changing open bazaar. The second portion of the space which spans the remaining 5 floors provides affordable micro-housing units to homeless LGBTQ+ youth, some of which are employed within the bazaar portion of Sonder and Bazaar.

RESEARCH DESIGN

RESEARCH

Nolita, often times being confused as a part of Soho, is a small, condensed neighborhood on the island of Manhattan in New York, NY. Its border streets include Houston to the north, Bowery to the east, Broome Street to the south, and Lafayette Street to the west. It is east of Soho, south of NoHo, west of the Lower East Side, and north of Little Italy – hence the name “Nolita.” Currently, Nolita is rapidly changing, losing much of its charm due to the effects of rapid gentrification and the ever-growing interest for exclusive boutiques, concept stores, and artisan food establishments. This brings us to the site, Elizabeth Street Garden, an area that is fighting its own issue of inevitable gentrification and identity crisis. As of right now, there is a proposed building that is meant to take over this site taking up much of the garden causing controversy for those looking to preserve it. I wanted to take this site and use it as a means to not only give back to the community, instead of taking away, but also to fight the inequalities currently facing New York City.

NOLITA/ELIZABETH STREET GARDEN SITE STUDIES

GARDEN VIEW

CURRENT SITE IMAGES - ELIZABETH STREET GARDEN

STREET VIEW

PROGRAM OBSERVATION Starting off by doing research within Nolita itself, I visited the streets flanking Elizabeth Street Garden – Mott Street and Elizabeth Street. During this visit, quantifiable data was produced analyzing the current programming which ran along these two streets. The findings showed that the main, or most popular programs included restaurants, clothing stores, and concept stores while the least popular included deli/convenience stores, book stores, and, surprisingly, coffee shops (Fig. 1). With this data, it was important to fuse the programs that were deemed popular with the programs that were lacking on these two streets to spark the already evident interest, but still provide services that are lacking. The permanent shops that will exist in the space include a coffee shop, convenience store, book store, and clothing store. The combination of these different programs within Nolita will provide an already popular service in order to draw in consumers as well as fill the void that currently exists.

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Fig. 1 Cont.

LIGHT OBSERVATION MEASURED IN LUX

As with all developments it was important to touch on an aspect of sustainability within this concept in order to uphold the necessary impacts design has on the current political, social, and environmental climate. With this, I looked into a topic that is visibly impacting New York City – light pollution. Light pollution is, “excessive, misdirect, or obtrusive artificial light.

Too much light pollution has consequences: it washes out starlight in the night sky, interferes with astronomical research, disrupts ecosystems, has adverse health effects, and wastes energy. A historical example of when light pollution has proven to interfere with human behavior was during the Los Angeles Blackout of 1994.

After a blackout caused by an earthquake, many people were calling emergency services reporting a “giant, silvery cloud” in the sky – this was the Milky Way. This is a prime example of how light pollution has disrupted our natural ties with the environment; including the stars which in a Fig. 1

city we are able to see fewer than a dozen; this is compared the over 2,500 stars visible in a classic night sky. Light pollution has a larger effect on humans past the point of night sky visibility. In fact, it has been shown that light pollution has an immense effect on our circadian rhythm, the body’s “clock” that tells us when to sleep, eat, and rise. This regulates many physiological processes such as environmental cues like sunlight and temperature.

Nolita, similarly to the rest of New York City, is no stranger to light pollution.

In order to get a better understanding of how large of an effect light pollution has on Nolita, I did a site study measuring, with a light monitor, the LUX values of various intersections within the neighborhood (Fig. 2). I found that this value varied from block to block with some areas having “hotspots” while others were incredibly dark (which levels typical for residential as opposed to commercial areas). The area in which the site, Elizabeth Street Garden, was located did not have such a high intensity of light pollution as it sits on a primarily residential street. With that being said, I still wanted to address

the issue of light pollution in my space.

Not only is the overall space open, allowing natural light to come through, Light wells have also been added which extend to the roof top allowing daylight to filter in through the central circulation of all three bottom floors during the day. Along with this, light shelves have been placed within each micro-housing unit along the windows. Light shelves are horizontal surfaces which reflects daylight deep into a building’s interior. This allows the natural daylight to act as the primary source of light during the day reducing the need for artificial light. These light shelves have also been proven to promote the occupant’s comfort within the space.

PRECEDENT - THE CENTER

The inequality currently facing the LGBTQ+ community The inequality currently facing the LGBTQ+ community within New York City was another within New York City was another issue which was importissue whichantwas important to my tackle was myAsmain drive for this project. As previto tackle and was also main and drive for thisalso project. ously noted, 40% of homeless youthyouth in New York previously noted, 40% of homeless in New York City City currently identifies on the LGBTQ+ currently on the LGBTQ+high spectrum.

Due to this it is important to provide, not only a spectrum. Due to identifies this astonishingly proportion, astonishingly high proportion, it is important to provide, not place of refuge, but affordable housing as well. The programing in this space allows both of only a place of refuge, but affordable housing as well. The these to be programing addressed.

Forspace instance, onofthe floor amongst the permanent programin this allows both theseground to be addressed. ming employing LGBTQ+ people, counseling rooms, a testing center, and For instance, on the ground floorexists amongstindividual the permanent programming LGBTQ+ individual a health center.

Thereemploying is also an artistpeople, workexists studio as well as a flexible gallery/event space counseling rooms, a testing center, and a health center. There to allow the community to harness their creativity in a safe, respectable environment. These is also an artist work studio as well as a flexible gallery/event programs were a precedent study of The space derived to allow thefrom community to harness their creativity in a Center, a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendersafe, community center. During the study this space, I found that they focused on respectable environment.

These programs wereof derived precedent study recovery of The Center, a lesbian, gay, bisexual, aspects of from arts aand culture, and health, family and youth, and events and rental. and transgender community center. During the study of this This provided the necessary foundation of what Sonder & Bazaar has become – an LGBT+ space, I found that they focused on aspects of arts and culture, hub,andmarket, recovery and health, family youth, andand eventshousing and rental. center.

This provided the necessary foundation of what Sonder & Bazaar has become – an LGBT+ hub, market, and housing center.

DESIGN

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

MATERIAL TECTONICS & ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIES

FINAL CUBE MODEL Upon reaching the final cube model, I returned to the original two words I was exploring – bend and fracture. With this, I began to experiment with how I can use the eggshells from Cube B in order to simulate the act of fracturing while using the bend of the second material (chipboard) to promote the fracture itself. Through that, the third and final cube was created showing the motion of this action via a static position that appears animated.

The part that fascinated me most with Cube C was not only this motion, but how the central three eggs would stay intact in order to juxtapose the fractured ones against it. These intact eggs also resembled connective “pathways” between the two bent forms while still allowing the fractured eggshells to become their own entity - later becoming the choice of programming within the structure. This is the core thought process for the tectonic design of the building, as shown on the next page through the sketches and exploded axonometric diagram.

CUBE A: BEND & FRACTURE

CUBE B: AGGREGATE & BOOLEAN

CUBE C: BEND & FRACTURE

CONCEPT SKETCHES & EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC

BAZAAR PERMANENT SHOPS MICRO-HOUSING UNITS CONNECTIVE PATHWAYS

FLOOR PLANS & DIAGRAMS

FIRST FLOOR 1.

1. Meeting Room 2. Coffee Shop 3. Individual Counseling Rooms 4. Open Bazaar 5. Book/Zine/Clothing/Convenience Store

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The first floor serves as more than just an entrance into Sonder & Bazaar, it houses the primary public programming accessible to all who walk through the structure. Completely open to the exterior without any permanent boundaries, the bazaar is made to feel welcoming and inviting. The curved walls and the continuation of a cobblestone pathway lead you into the space from both Elizabeth Street and Elizabeth Street Garden. The coffee shop right off of Elizabeth Street also serves as not only an entrance to Sonder & Bazaar, but also a permanent, formal storefront made to draw the community in. The combined Book, Zine, Clothing, and Convenience Store also serves this purpose being accessible from Elizabeth Street Garden.

The test/health center and individual counseling rooms offer a means of private and comfortable refuge for those who seek these services, but may not know where to go.

Through the various programs, the structure is meant to feel like a true city hub offering not only a multitude of services, but a variety of experiences as well all catered around the needs of the LGBTQ+ creative community.

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THE BAZAAR - DAY During the day, an informal bazaar occupies the central portion of the first floor within Sonder & Bazaar. This space transforms into a marketplace offering a space for LGBTQ+ artists and makers to sell their good – supporting a community full of diversity, spirit, and creativity.

The tables were designed in order to be able to combine them in a way that is customizable to the vendor, allowing them to create a larger or smaller combination depending on the quantity or size of product being sold. These tables are also shaped in a way which conforms to the structure of the space – including the columns which they are able to be wrapped around due to the table’s arched shape.

THE BAZAAR - NIGHT At night, the bazaar becomes a different entity entirely. Instead of selling goods, it becomes an event space able to house a multitude of different occasions. As seen here, the space has transformed into a concert venue with various stage sections and a central runway for musicians, dancers, and other LGBTQ+ performance artists.

Now, due to the design of the tables, they are able to be formed together to create these various stages. The two sizes of tables are able to be locked into one another in order to create one larger structure measuring six feet in depth. Again, the arched shape of the tables allow them to curve around existing columns, as seen by the runway and the other stages looping around their structure.

ART GALLERY / WORK & EVENT SPACE

As seen by the diagram below, this space is truly transformative and is able to conform to a various amount of different artists’ shows and spatial needs. The pivoting walls allow this to happen while giving the opportunity to close off two portions – an event space (to hold private, exclusive events) and an open artist workspace (giving a space for artists to come together and collaborate on a variety of pieces). The walls also open up to the bazaar during the day for artists to not only show their work in a gallery, but have the opportunity to sell it as well.

SECOND FLOOR 1. Micro-Housing Units 2. Shared “Patio” Space 3. Fitness Center 4. Yoga/Meditation Room 5. Laundry 6. Entrance Alcoves The second and third floors primarily contain the micro-housing units while the overall structure was designed to promote connectivity between not only the other people living within these units, but a visual connection between all three floors. This was done through the layout of these units, allowing multiple voids within the floorplate to promote this notion. Upon walking out of your micro-housing unit you are able to see across the structure, but also below through the central void to the controlled chaos of the bazaar during the day and any events at night. Additional voids are also developed in order to add that same connectivity to both the below coffee shop and the combined Book, Zine, Clothing, and Convenience Store – both looking down at the most public and busiest portion; the checkout queue.

Shared “patio” spaces allow customization for those who are living in the micro-housing units – giving the ability to create additional communities within this large structure. A fitness center is also provided to all tenants in order to promote health and wellness, but this within itself becomes a social hub for communication. Lastly, each micro-housing unit offers their own nook area before entering the unit to allow for a sense of privacy in an otherwise open space.

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THIRD FLOOR 1. Micro-Housing Units 2. Lounge Space 3. Artists’ Theatre 4. Green Space 5. Laundry 6. Entrance Alcoves While the second and third floor both primarily contain the micro-housing units, they both serve a slightly different energy due to the proximity to the ground floor bazaar. Although you are able to still be visually connected to the bottom two floors, this energy has been restored due to the additional programming provided on this floor. The theatre, being the main component in restoring this energy allows guests from the ground floor to make their way up – promoting the same energy being exhibited on the first two floors. This theatre will showcase LGBTQ+ artists through a variety of performances and other forms of media, such as films, in an environment that is meant to feel casual and transformative. The green spaces and lounges also restore this energy, giving the inhabitants a space to meet, but also a space of refuge that continues to promote human connectivity.

The structure of the space mimics this connectivity through the various pathways spanning across both the east and west facades. Open balconies also propagate these facades on this floor as well as the second floor, as opposed to completely closing of the space, in order to keep the same feeling of openness as if you are not in a closed structure at all, but instead a part of the city. These balconies are able to be closed off due to inclement weather via a suspended glass enclosure. The micro-housing units share the same language as those below them – including a full wall of windows and light shelves to allow as much natural light in the space as possible to reduce light pollution during the day.

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SECTIONS & MATERIALS

SECTION PERSPECTIVE A

SECTION PERSPECTIVE B

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MATERIAL SELECTION 1. Various Finishes of Stucco 2. Cobblestone 3. Teak Wood 4. Concrete 5. Linen 6.Marble 7. Slate 8. Glass

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The choice of material was done in a way that offered various textures while utilizing materials that would age beautifully within a Wabi-sabi narrative, allowing time to add character and uniqueness. It was also important to continue the same material story throughout Sonder & Bazaar in both the housing units and the public space – giving the illusion that all places have a sense of home and belonging.

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PERSPECTIVE RENDERINGS

FIRST FLOOR - COFFEE SHOP ENTRANCE

SECOND FLOOR

SECOND FLOOR - LOUNGE

THIRD FLOOR - THEATRE

MICRO-HOUSING UNIT

MICRO-HOUSING WALL UNIT

This diagrams showcases the transformability of the wall units provided in every micro-housing unit. The ability for these walls to “transform” maximizes the limited amount of space, but also provides a variety of different conditions for those living in the units. Each wall unit is designed to provide 5 main functions – a living room sofa area, a pull down murphy-style bed, a desk, a dining area, and storage. A combination of different configurations may be combined in order to offer a fully customizable experience within each inhabitant’s own unit.

REFLECTION & ARTIST STATEMENT

REFLECTION Reflecting on Sonder & Bazaar, I’m quite excited with how the overall design turned out. I believe it speaks very truly to what I believe in when it comes to design how the ability it has to ignite change within a community and, in this case, the issues of inequality. During the review, the critics described this project as, “soulful and detailed” and these are the qualities I would like to display in all of my future work.

In regards to moments within the project I would change – perhaps the entrance nooks before entering into the micro-housing units could have used a bit more attention. One critic suggested utilizing one nook per two micro-housing unit and I agree that logistically it would make more sense in order to save space and further promote the idea of human connectivity I am conveying throughout the project.

A R T I S T S TAT E M E N T

JESSE COLE CERMAK

Creation, the act of bringing an idea into existence, has been an integral part of my life's work and leisure, from earliest moments to present day. My insatiable passion for interior design mirrors this notion, as it is the process of creation put in motion with the intent to make an impact. The effect that I would like my work to have is one that results in a positive and inclusive environmental, political, and social statement. It is important to me to use this passion to initiate change in the world by using the platform of interior design to push society forward in a way that is both responsible and reverential. With studying interior design, as well as other various topics, this has have given me a pathway to making this change possible – through research, observation, and explorative methods in both critical thinking and technological advancements. Interior design is one of the rare fields of study in which you create spaces that fully immerse someone in a surrounding so as to impact their consciousness. I, too, am aware that every physical experience that I've had sparked a consciousness, igniting action, and guiding me to where I am now, from artist to designer and everything in between.

These ideologies have amassed together to push this current project into motion – utilizing both statistical research as well as emotion in unison to create an inclusively rebellious environment in response to the environmental, political, and social inequalities surrounding our current society.