ALTAR(ED) SPACES

New York, New York Spring 2023 Studio 6 Instructor Adrienne Brown

Altar(ed) Spaces archetypal spa design is a mere symphony of aesthetic elements, but a measured conduit for eliciting introspection and awareness. Drawing inspiration from the tapestry of tarot archetypes and theories of Jungian analysis, Altar(ed) Spaces merges the art of divination with a restorative bathing experience to create a contemporary sanctuary. The bathing chambers not only offer moments of respite and rejuvenation but also serves as a dynamic vessels for inner revelation. As the individual engages with their given bath, the unique sensorial experience navigates the intricate corridors of the individual’s subconscious, leading them towards the concealed recesses of their mind that may otherwise remain obscured.

Turtle Bay

MANHATTAN 1st Ave

48thST

Site - Renwick Ruins

United Nations

East River

Rosseveltisland

Queens

Located on Roosevelt Island in the East River between Manhattan and Queens, the Renwick Ruins site (in purple) bears historical significance, having housed society’s marginalized and rejected members throughout its history. This proposal seeks to transform the Renwick Ruins into a re-adaptive sacred space, offering a chance to reconnect with discarded aspects of self, ancestral lineages, and lives marked by exile. Through ritual bathing, inhabitants engage with an Altar(ed) mental Space, delving into inner shadows and desires, embracing personal and collective suffering for potential liberation. This immersive experience invites participants to reshape their mental and physical landscapes, recognizing their capacity to lead the life they envision.

TECTONIC STUDIES | Preliminary Form Sketches

My design approach is guided by section drawings, what I consider the most compelling avenue for shaping architectural narratives. Section studies offer an unparalleled intimacy in crafting spaces tailored to the contours of the human body. These visual explorations delve into the verticality intrinsic to our existence, a dimension I previously underestimated. It is through this intensified focus on section drawings that I believe I found such success in bridging the material and mental realms in this project.

INTERIOR STUDIES | Hollowing out Form Sketches