ShAw community muSeum
The objective of this studio ensured students were able to conceptualize a lived experience into a communal space.
Shaw Community Museum for Restorative
Justice is an urban cultural institution situated within a historically black neighborhood shaped by cycles of displacement, segregation, and resilience. The project explores how the program of a museum can spatially convey restorative justice by translating themes of tension, loss, perseverance, and collective identity into a sequence of experiences.
This sketch that came after the first visualization of displacement became the most encompassing idea that threaded the entire process together. The resulting build gives oppurtunity to portray these stories with truth, conviction, and dignity.
Shaw, NorthweSt DC • Fall 2022 • ProF. Dahlia
Movement Parti
Restorative
The Movement Rootbound Narrative Tension and Compression Framed Moments Ruptured Shell
One of the loudest, busiest, and most familiar intersections in Washington D.C. happens to be the origin of the #DontMUTEDC movement. The 7th St./Georgia Ave. corridor is the main north-south axis of the entire city; on this strip at the SE corner of Florida Ave. has decades of history known for constantly boasting Washington’s very own Go-Go music. Every business that leased that corner was sure to keep the sounds on. A normal day meant natives and “undesirables” alike dancing in front of the speaker one or two at a time. A recently built apartment complex called “The Shay” organized its tenants to file mass nuisance complaints against the current business: MetroPCS.
The city appeased with the balooning housing market. When news of the speakers falling silent got around, residents from across the DMV rallied at one corner to fight for the “Chocolate City.”
A movement was born.
“Go-Go City” by Kaliq Crosby
The reconvergence of a herd will still suffer loss in a tightly closed system. Justice in storytelling
Museums typically use different methods of circulation to infer specific experiences from its users,
After attaining the prompt of the project, this was the very first visual made.
The lived experience of those displaced from their communities was determined by the time of the split.
Earlier loss created more time for decay of the original identity.
Community Vs. Segregation
Disintegrate of a Whole
Gallery Mapping
form mAkinG with ScAle model
Material was used in proportion of how large certain storied spaces will develop through the finite.
Thread was sliced through a grid to create digital canvas that can draw the building in section at the same relative shapes.
Solving the smallest exhibits first to allowed flexibility for the larger spaces to contort to any light deficencies. Upon review, the digital space could be easily interpreted to enure there were no circulatory issues.
Punctured shell to allow specificied visual moments.
Cafe as a catalyst into the museum space.
Auxilliary spaces like auditorium and private courtyard to link opposing experiences.
Frontage as a boundary to incubate an public area of cultural expression.
Auxilliary
The decision to partially enclose the mural space recreated the facade’s ability to train the eye to a distinctive view. Passerbys will always notice the framing of the moment.
The project’s spatial narrative is revealed in section using vertical compression and expansion to frame moments. Shifts in floor plates, ceiling heights, and light wells guide movement and establish visual connections across programs, reinforcing the relationship between individual experience and collective space.
Plaza - Convergence Section
Mural Space
Entry Cross Section
Convergence Cross Section
This abrasive facade came about from the perception of what’s “ghetto.” Many call DC rough due to the characters that hang out in environment, or even its sounds. “Ghetto” of any sorts will always invite eyes. Observers that can truly look directly within instead of using their periphery has wisdom of sight.
This exact sidewalk on T St. had a 15’ deep easement of grass against a windowless wall. Friday to Sunday, the same elderly men would gather, set up chairs, and enjoy the company over the sounds of the city passing.
After the sale of the property, overnight it was fenced off.
A more familiar facade common to DC row homes was made to wedge itself between the two modern elements on the block.
Facade Detail
7th St. Elevation 1”=32’
T St. Elevation 1”=32’
Varnished Wood
Sidewalk Inspired Tilework
Sanded Concrete
Weathered Brick
A space frame was determined the most practical since it allowed the most versatility for the free movement of spaces below.
Southeast Facing Isometric Section
Rigid Exterior, Fluid Interior
the cocoon
The Moorland-Spingarn Research Center is the largest and most comprehensive repository of books, documents, and ephemera on the global Black experience. It was founded in 1914 as the Moorland Library and became a research center within Howard University in 1973.
Among 700+ collections include the original personal papers of promininent figures like Kwame Nkrumah, Paul Robeson, Alain Locke, and Zora Neale Hurston.
The organization expressed interest in making millions of digital and physical pages of texts freely available to the residents of DC.
Derived from the works of black artists, “The Cocoon” is a place that facilitates the violent inner work necessary for generational change.
The objective of this studio was create a concept by compouding narratives of differing mediums such as artwork, music, film, and literature from separate eras.
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Mt Sinai, 600 A.D.
Skylight from Exterior Canopy
The definition of the black experience is infinitely varying. However, since history is collective, there are a plethora of unique nuanced experiences that is inherently understood before words are even exchanged.
Roots: The Saga of an American Family (1976) - Alex Haley
It’s always intrigued me that amidst a group called slaves there were individuals who were extremely able, who were extremely colorful, who were powerful personalities, who by no means fit the usual images of slaves.
They were people who, through their personalities and abilities, were very respected in the community where they lived by both black and white.”
Mercy (2017) - Nicki
Giovanni
She asked me to kill the spider Instead, I got the most peaceful weapons I can find.
I take a cup and a napkin. I catch the spider, put it outside and allow it to walk away.
If I am ever caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, just being alive and not bothering anyone,
I hope I am greeted with the same kind of mercy.
Mortal Man (2015) - Kendrick Lamar
The caterpillar is a prisoner to the streets that conceived it. Its only job is to eat Or consume everything around it in order to protect itself from this mad city.
While consuming its environment, the caterpillar begins to notice ways to survive. One thing it noticed is how much the world shuns him. But praises the butterfly. The butterfly represents the talent, the thoughtfulness, and the beauty within the caterpillar.
But having a harsh outlook on life, the caterpillar sees the butterfly as weak. And figures out a way to pimp it to his own benefits. Already surrounded by this mad city, the caterpillar goes to work on the cocoon Which institutionalizes him.
He can no longer see past his own thoughts He’s trapped. When trapped inside these walls certain ideas take root Such as going home, and bringing back new concepts to this mad city.
The result?
Wings begin to emerge, breaking the cycle of feeling stagnant. Finally free, the butterfly sheds light on situations that the caterpillar never considered, ending the internal struggle Although the butterfly and caterpillar are completely different They are one and the same.
old themeS
10 And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.
11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.
12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
13 And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;
14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not.
17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
It’s always intrigued me that amidst a group called slaves there were individuals
who were extremely able, who were extremely colorful, who were powerful personalities, who by no means fit the usual images of slaves.
They were people who, through their personalities and abilities, were very respected in the community where they lived by both black and white.”
10 The caterpillar is a prisoner to the streets that conceived it Its only job is to eat or consume everything around it In order to protect itself from this mad city
11 While consuming its environment The caterpillar begins to notice ways to survive One thing it noticed is how much the world shuns him, but praises the butterfly
12 The butterfly represents the talent, the thoughtfulness And the beauty within the caterpillar
13 But having a harsh outlook on life The caterpillar sees the butterfly as weak And figures out a way to pimp it to his own benefits
She asked me to kill the spider Instead, I got the most peaceful weapons I can find
I take a cup and a napkin. I catch the spider, put it outside and allow it to walk away
If I am ever caught in the wrong place at the wrong place, just being alive and not bothering anyone,
I hope I am greeted with the same kind of mercy.
14 Already surrounded by this mad city The caterpillar goes to work on the cocoon Which institutionalizes him
15 He can no longer see past his own thoughts. He’s trapped When trapped inside these walls certain ideas take root, such as Going home, and bringing back new concepts to this mad city
16 The result?
17 Wings begin to emerge, breaking the cycle of feeling stagnant Finally free, the butterfly sheds light on situations
Testement Ladder to Heaven
16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.
the Ladder” John Climacus
of Christ” Aert De Gelder
Proximity
18 That the caterpillar never considered, ending the internal struggle
19 Although the butterfly and caterpillar are completely different They are one and the same
2015 AD “Mortal Man” Kendrick Lamar Identity
Giovanni Humanity
Haley
Which spaces get prioritized in an ultra online society?
Millions of children and young adults are transitioning from stringent formal language arts teachings to a system less laden with rule making. The amount of societal loss attributed to the switch from paper text to digital won’t be fully understood for another decade.
Designers in this age have he chance to still ensure the preface of any new complex topic is based in tangible works.
While other contemporary libraries are making stacks more obsolete, The Cocoon is staying adament by keeping the repository of books central.
The bookshelf structure resembles cells that offer many unprogrammed moments as users search through the works.
A procession of seating on the west side of the stacks leads users to the staff desk while private rooms wrap the east.
An extensive storage area southwest is separate from the main envelope to optimize specific air control for sensitive or exclusive materials.
Although it may be the most frequented space, the computer lab is located furthest from the street so most visitors experience the full depth of the archive.
Typical Section 1”=8’
View from Cirulation Desk
Entry Procession
Skylight from Exterior Canopy
Old Testement Genesis 28:12[Jacob] dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reached to heaven, behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
New Testement Matthew 3:16 When baptized, Jesus came up, behold the heavens were opened to Him, the Spirit of God decended light upon Him
Nicki GiovanniIf I’m ever caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, just being alive...
Kendrick LamarAlthough the butterfly and caterpillar are completely different They are one and the same.
Alex HaleyAmidst a group called slaves, through their abilities, [they] were very respected [among] black and white
WarDon’t you know that it’s true That for me and for you The world is a ghetto
